Eye sensor, system and method

ABSTRACT

An eye sensor, system and method for measuring fixational eye movements of an individual&#39;s eyeball (e.g., ocular microtremors and microsaccades) to provide a variable voltage biosignal for measuring the individual&#39;s brain stem activity. The eye sensor comprises a sensor mounted on the individual&#39;s closed or opened eyelid so as to be deflected by the fixational eye movements of the eyeball. A shielded flexible ribbon assembly supplies the biosignal generated by the sensor to an amplifier located on the individual&#39;s skin where the biosignal is amplified. The amplifier is interconnected with a signal processor and a display by which graphical and numerical representations of the biosignal are made accessible to an anesthesiologist, intensivist or clinician. A method for analyzing the biosignal to determine the brainstem activity of a patient.

This disclosure is a Continuation application of and claims the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. 121 of U.S. application Ser. No. 15/373,434 filed Dec.8, 2016.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an eye sensor, system and method whichdisplays graphical and numerical representations of one or more of thefixation eye movements of a patient's eyeball (e.g., the cornea/sclera)to provide a monitor (e.g., an anesthesiologist, intensivist orclinician) with an indication of the patient's brain stem activity oraltered brainstem state including his level of sedation, consciousnessand responsiveness. This can be used prior to, during and after amedical or clinical procedure, such as, for example, when the patient isanesthetized during an operation. A sensor of the eye sensor is thin andcompliant and capable of conforming to the shape of the patient's closedeyelid or being located in the tissue folds of the patient's open eyelidat which to be responsive to the fixational eye movements of thepatient's eyeball.

Background Art

During the performance and treatment of many medical procedures andconditions, anesthesia is administered so that a patient is sedated andrendered unconscious. In some cases, the patient may be over-sedatedthroughout an operation which could permanently impact his neuralability and possibly cause brain stem death. In other situations, thepatient may be under sedated and immobilized without having the abilityto alert medical personnel to a level of consciousness which subjectsthe patient to pain. In still other cases, over-sedation of a patientmay prolong the duration of mechanical ventilation, and under-sedationcan result in the patient being subjected to unintended extubation.

For a long time, a primary source of information available to aclinician concerning the depth of anesthesia or sedation was limited tothe patient's somatic and autonomic response to physical and/or verbalstimuli. These responses are known to be susceptible to being alteredand influenced by neuromuscular blocking drugs, drugs affecting theautonomic nervous system, and the inconsistency of the stimuli. Thus,the presence or absence of these responses does not always accuratelycorrelate with conscious awareness and, therefore, can be poorindicators of the depth of the patient's unconscious state.

Microsaccades (MS) (not to be confused with their larger counterpart,saccadic movements) consist mostly of single wave actions, erratic withbursts and periods of high activity accompanied by periods of noactivity and are typically measured in terms of time between intervals,on the order of one burst per second. Therefore the frequency ofmicrosaccades tends to be less reported as useful, and more often thedirection, presence or lack of, peak speed or acceleration and amplitudeas measures of various phenomenon. Ocular microtremors (OMT) on theother hand is always tremoring continuously except at death and otherrare conditions. OMT tends to be measured in frequency and is used as anindicator of overall activity levels awareness and arousal with trendanalysis, ranging from near zero to 100 Hz, in part because priormeasurement techniques are prone to variation when measuring such smallamplitudes. OMT amplitude ranges are much narrower than microsaccadicranges both in absolute and, especially, relative terms. Historicallydominant high-frequency counts are the primary units of measure used fortrend wise continuous measurements and not to measure reaction power orresponse to a stimulus.

MS achieve the highest acceleration and speeds of all eye motions, aptlynamed “flicks”, and these motions are known to act rapidly risingquickly in an exponential fashion, and similarly, to disappear or dropbelow measurement levels equally rapidly. Measures of microsaccadesconsider OMT to be of insignificant value for visual experiments,outside the range of interest and typically below the level of detectionof microsaccadic measurement systems. Until the present disclosureconventional wisdom taught that microsaccade events microsaccades areeither “present” or not “present” and taught to be of primary visualpurpose and origin, and only on occasion suggested for use in themeasurement of conscious-sedated patients limited to awake patientconditions, again where open eye visual stimuli and action can bedetected.

Sensors are known in the prior art which are responsive to microsaccades(MS) and/or Ocular Micro Tremor (OMT) of an individual undergoingtesting. Sensors are also known which are adhesively bonded over thepatient's closed eyelid to sense large voluntary (e.g. 20-degree grossexcursion) motions of the patient's eyeball. However, the known sensorsare relatively large, such that they are limited to being used duringsurgery when the eyes of the individual being tested are fully closedand taped shut. Because small micro eye movements have an amplitude ofabout 500 nanometers, sensor these motions are susceptible to beingmasked or altered by external electrical and electromagneticinterference as well as physical forces and biological artifacts.Therefore, what is needed now is an improved sensor and a sensor systemthat are capable of generating a clean biosignal that accuratelyreflects the fixational eye movements (e.g. MS & OMT) of the patient'seyeball (e.g., having an amplitude of an eyeball arc length excursionbetween 0.1 and 400 micrometers) by reducing unwanted artifacts, bothseismic and electrical, and by amplifying the information content of thebiosignal without also amplifying the undesirable background noise.

The eye sensor should be capable of measuring a range and sensitivityadequate to capture the full range of motions known for the fixationalmovements. As such the eye sensor should be able to measure movements ofthe eyeball perimeter of arc motion lengths between 0.1 microns and 400microns, representing the smallest recorded OMT excursion at the lowerlimit and the largest microsaccadic excursion on the upper limit.Accordingly, the widest reported range of motion of OMT is from 0.1-2.5and more commonly 0.5-1.5 with a reported average excursion ofapproximately 1 micrometers arc length. Accordingly, the widest reportedrange of motion of MS is from 3-403 and more commonly 16-151 with areported average excursion of approximately 45 microns micrometers arclength. For frequency the OMT component ranges from zero on death andother rare conditions up to as high as 200 hertz, commonly in the rangeof 20-90, with a mean value of approximately 84 hertz in healthy awakeadults. The MS component ranges from less than one hertz up to 25 hertz,and is commonly reported in the 1-13 hertz range not including naturalresonances and additional burst periods. The reported MS values aretaken predominantly from awake patient records, and the availableinformation available about the characteristics of MS in unconsciouspatients or those under depressed brainstem conditions is spare to none.

Unwanted artifacts can also be introduced by the connection from thesensor to the other items of the system. Given that the movements beingmeasured are so small, any movement of the sensor can register. Thusthere must be considerable attention to isolating the sensor frommovement transmitted by the signal transmission means. Additionally,once the sensor registers some movement of the eye and produces asignal, that signal (e.g. electrical) must be protected frominterference present in the testing environment, and great care must beprovided to maintain the integrity of the signal.

It has been found that attaching some conventional ocular microtremorsensor to a patient's eyelid may result in a focused pressure beingapplied to the eyelid which creates a depression in the patient'seyeball. The sometimes intrusive nature of the conventional sensorapplying a concentrated pressure to the patient's eyeball can, overtime, cause patient discomfort. In this and other cases, a conventionalsensor may require additional intervention and controls to ensure itsproper position placement in order to be capable of responding to thepatient's eye motions. What is even more, the patient may resist wearingthe conventional sensor to avoid the discomfort caused by the pressurebeing applied to his eyeball.

Moreover, to maximize its application, the improved sensor should be oflow cost, able to avoid contamination and compact so as to be capable ofbeing attached directly to the individual's closed eyelid or in thetissue folds thereof at which to be responsive to the fixational eyemovements while the patient is wholly or partly asleep or awake andwhile his eyelid is fully closed, fully open or blinks between beingopened and closed. In this same regard, the sensor must be sufficientlycompliant so as to avoid applying uncomfortable focused pressure forcesto the patient's eye and be easily attached in a convenient manner so asto be worn comfortably with the patient being substantially unaware ofits presence.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In general terms, an eye sensor, system, and method are disclosed havingan application for providing a monitor (e.g. anesthesiologist,intensivist, clinician, or the like) with a reliable indication of apatient's level of brain stem activity or altered brainstem stateincluding his level of sedation, responsiveness and consciousness. Attimes prior to, during and following a medical procedure or evaluationsuch as in the case of anesthesia administered to the patient during anoperation. The eye sensor comprises an electrically active sensingelement such as, for example, a sensor of a detector that can beattached directly over the patient's closed eyelid or in the tissuefolds of his opened eyelid so as to be responsive to the fixational eyemovements of the patient's eyeball (e.g., the cornea/sclera) having anamplitude of an eyeball arc length excursion between 0.1 and 400micrometers. The eye sensor also comprises a shielded flexible ribbonassembly by which an alternating voltage biosignal generated by thedetector is supplied to a shielded eye signal amplifier. The amplifiedoutput of the eye signal amplifier of the eye sensor is provided firstto a signal processor and then to a visual display which providesgraphical and numerical representations of the biosignal and thepatient's brain stem activity and level of consciousness.

Importantly through a series of studies and experiments, it has beenfound that microsaccades are an excellent measure of brainstem response,especially at low levels previously unstudied and when combined togetherwith OMT signals provide a powerful new means to diagnose brainstemstates and patient conditions that until now were not feasibly possible.It has become known to the applicant that eye motions of thecharacteristics of microsaccades and distinctly uncharacteristic of OMTare present at all levels of the continuum from deeply anesthetized towide awake, that on average their frequency (mean, intersaccadicinterval, rate, and velocity) and burst pattern remains relativelysteady across the continuum. The amplitude, power, and energy of themicrosaccades appear to vary in dramatic fashion, perhapslogarithmically or exponentially. It is also discovered thatmicrosaccades tend to burst forcefully, in nearly square wave fashionupon rapid increases of arousal, reactions to stimuli and otherawakening phenomenon and events. The strength and power of themicrosaccades appear to be proportional to the responsiveness of thebrainstem, especially at lower levels of the continuum; or upon lightresponses to mild stimuli; or upon tempered responses or responses tomore noxious stimuli (e.g., by drugs or other brainstem functionattenuation mechanisms such as sleep). Conversely, we observe that theamplitude, power or energy of microsaccadic eye movements decreasesdramatically upon cessation of stimulus. The power of microsaccademovements also drops upon the loss of consciousness such as induced bysleep or drug agents. However, the transition although clearly distinctand relatively abrupt, is not so sharply defined as that for awakening.At higher levels of arousal, microsaccadic responses appear proportionalto the strength of stimulus and the brainstem's attenuation level.However, proportional changes seem much less dramatic. This phenomenonobserved by the applicant at awake levels helps to explain currentteachings that it is the presence or lack thereof, the direction,density of focus, short-term firing rate peak velocity of single wavesthat is clinically relevant, again especially on awake subjects inresponse to visual stimuli.

It is disclosed further that certain combinations of these fixationaleye movement parameters such as those of microsaccade responses orreactions to stimuli and the steady trending patterns of their OMTpatterns can be recognized as signatures to diagnose and distinguishbetween various states that were undistinguishable by measuring eitherof the parameters alone.

It has been found that contemporaneously measuring two or more types offixational eye movements (e.g. MS and OMT) can provide better insightinto the state of the patient. By monitoring these two or more types offixational eye movement, unique patterns can be found and compared topredetermined values and suggest, and/or automatically take, an actionin response to the condition. The use of two or more fixational eyemovements enables clinicians to better diagnose a patient's condition inthe circumstance where differing underlying conditions present similarlyand are previously indistinguishable using conventional instrumentssingle parameter measures and methods available prior to the presentinvention.

While the invention is described in terms of MS and OMT movements, it ishypothesized that drift and other fixational movements, when monitoredwill provide data representative of brainstem activity. What has beendiscovered is by monitoring at least two fixational eye movements,previously believed by the prior art to be only of independent value,actually better diagnose the state of brainstem than the individual datapoints.

For example, the use of two or more types of fixational eye movementprovides valid objective data for clinicians to distinguish between:

transient increases in physical and brain activity resulting as aresponse to stimulus versus fundamental shifts in the level of sedationor anesthesia;

sleep state depression of activity versus drug-induced depression ofactivity;

conscious awareness versus unconsciousness lack of awareness whenparalyzed by drugs, absent usual physical activity indicators;

mild versus moderate levels of sedation or other subtle grades, whichoften present similarly; and

gradations of “non-responsiveness” or continuum of brain state activitypresent below the physically observable cutoff point. These conditionsare not clearly distinguished by OMT frequency measurements alone. Whilethe OMT frequency can indicate these states, often times similar OMTfrequency readings are present for multiple states, as is the case withmost singular sets of data. Likewise, microsaccadic motions, reactivitypatterns, and bursts, while excellent indicators of strength and speedof response, are less valuable in evaluating general trends and gradualchanges. During a given length of time of known similar underlying drugdose and effect on the brainstem, one might observe periods of prevalentstrong microsaccadic events associated with multiple stimuli andimmediate adjacent periods of the opposite. Without additionalinformation, observers of microsaccadic reactivity might draw incorrectconclusions, possibly leading to improper administration of lethaldrugs.

Some embodiments comprise a sensor system designed to both capture thefull range of both MS and OMT motions, to be of appropriate sensitivityand noise reduction to measure both signals, and to be able to do sounder the full range of behavioral conditions of the eye being open orclosed and across the gamut of subject being fully awake and aware todeeply anesthetized under medical coma conditions.

Some embodiments comprise a system to process the MS and OMT movementsand determine the frequency of the OMT and a combined data; wherein thecombined data comprises combined microsaccades (MS) amplitude and OMTamplitude, combined MS and OMT power, combined MS and OMT reactivity, ora combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the sensor of the eye sensor comprises apiezoelectric element. One embodiment incorporates a single thick piezolayer in the range of 10-60 um thick which is laminated together with anadjacent structural layer of approximately equal thickness as the piezolayer so as to maximize stress and strain and sensitivity. In someembodiments, piezoelectric element comprises upper and lower thin filmforming piezoelectric layers that are joined one above the other in anopposing bimorph fashion by an intermediate bonding agent. In someembodiments, the outside of each of the upper and lower piezoelectriclayers has an electrically conductive surface electrodes directlydisposed upon the piezo layer to collect the signal created by movement.The sensor of the detector is able to generate the alternating voltagebiosignal between the outside conductive surfaces as the upper and lowerpiezoelectric layers thereof are deflected in response to fixational eyemovements of the patient's eyeball. To increase its sensitivity, enableproper transduction reliably without the need for additional measures,enable use during both open and closed eye conditions, and to reduce thediscomfort of the wearer, the sensor is attached to the patient's eyelidso as to conform to the shape thereof. Additionally, the sensing elementis covered with outer layers of conductive shielding, which areinsulated from the conducting electrodes that are disposed of inside.

While the present embodiments disclose the use of a conformingpiezoelectric sensor technology, it is (may be) suitable to employ anynumber of alternative technologies.

An embodiment of the flexible ribbon cable, which extends between thesensor and the amplifier, comprises a non-conductive film strip. Theflexible ribbon assembly is shielded from external electrical andelectromagnetic interference by electrically conductive shielding layersthat lie on the outside of the upper strip surface and to the outside ofthe lower non-conductive insulating layers. One or more electricallyconductive traces runs longitudinally along the inside of the ribbon inelectrical isolation from one another and the electrically conductiveshielding coatings. In some embodiments, the piezoelectric element issandwiched between the opposing upper and lower non-conductive strips atthe proximal end of the flexible ribbon assembly so that theelectrically conductive outside surfaces of the sensing element lie inelectrical contact with electrical terminals formed at first ends of theconductive traces that run along the upper and lower strips. A flexiblecircuit board is located, in some embodiments sandwiched, between theopposing upper and lower non-conductive strips at the terminal end ofthe flexible ribbon assembly so as to lie in electrical contact withelectrical terminals formed at the opposite ends of the conductivetraces. The flexible circuit board at the terminal end of the flexibleribbon assembly is coupled to an electrical connector block that islocated in the interior of the eye signal amplifier. Accordingly, thealternating voltage biosignal generated by a piezoelectric element ofthe detector is supplied to the eye signal amplifier by way of theelectrically conductive traces that run along the upper and lowernon-conductive strips of the flexible ribbon assembly.

The amplifier of the eye sensor to which the alternating voltagebiosignal is supplied from the detector, and the shielded flexibleribbon assembly comprises an electrically conductive housing thatshields the biosignal from external electrical and electromagneticinterference. In some embodiments, the amplifier housing is attached byan electrically conductive adhesive patch to the patient skin. A printedcircuit board which lies at the bottom of and within the amplifierhousing is coupled to a grounding electrode that extends through thehousing to be held against the patient's skin. The electricallyconductive traces, which run along the flexible ribbon assembly andcarry the fixational eye movement biosignal from the sensing element,are connected to the printed circuit board for amplification by means ofthe aforementioned connector block located within the housing of the eyesignal amplifier. First and second electrically conductive mesh pillowscan lie inside the amplifier housing so as to contact respective ones ofthe electrically conductive shielding that lie on the outside of theupper and lower non-conductive strips of the ribbon assembly. The meshpillows lie in circuit paths by which the shielding coatings of theribbon assembly are connected to each other and to electrical ground atthe patient's skin by way of the grounding electrode through the bottomof the amplifier housing. The output of the eye signal amplifier issupplied from the printed circuit board thereof to the signal processorby way of either a shielded cable from the amplifier housing or awireless transmitter that is located within the amplifier housing andcommunicates with a remote transceiver of the signal processor.

There are many embodiments disclosed herein. Some of the embodiments arementioned below.

A method comprising: obtaining output signals from an eye sensorconfigured to produce the output signals that are indicative of eyemovement; and deriving a frequency and combined data from the outputsignals; wherein the frequency is of OMT frequency, and the combineddata comprises combined MS amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS andOMT power, combined MS and OMT reactivity, or a combination thereof. Theeye sensor can comprise a detector, and the detector comprises a sensor;and the sensor is located on an eyelid. The eye sensor can comprise adetector and an amplifier; the detector comprises a sensor; theamplifier is grounded to skin; and the sensor is located on an eyelid.There can be amplifying the output signals to render amplified outputsignals, and the deriving the frequency and the combined data comprisesprocessing the amplified output to isolate the frequency and thecombined data. The obtaining output signals comprises can be producing avoltage in response to an eye movement by a piezoelectric element;transmitting a current along an electrical connection. There can beamplifying the output signals to render amplified output signals;wherein the obtaining output signals comprises: producing a voltage inresponse to an eye movement by a piezoelectric element, wherein the eyesensor comprises the piezoelectric element; transmitting a current alongan electrical connection. The electrical connection can comprise ashielded ribbon. The eye sensor can comprise a sensor that is located ina tissue fold or an open eyelid. The deriving the frequency and combineddata can comprise: processing the output signals by a processor; whereinthe processing output signals comprises: isolating the eye movementattributed to OMT and MS, determining the frequency of the OMT, anddetermining the combined amplitude of OMT and the MS, the combined powerof the OMT and the MS, the reactivity, or a combination thereof. Therecan also be displaying results, wherein the displaying results comprisespresenting a representation of the frequency and the combined amplitudeof OMT and the MS, the combined power of the OMT and the MS, thereactivity, or a combination thereof. The presenting a representationcan comprise showing a frequency representation and a combined datarepresentation, and the frequency representation is shown atsubstantially contemporaneous as the combined data representation. Therecan also be compiling the frequency and the combined data to arrive asreference number; and displaying the reference number. There can also becomparing the frequency, the combined data, or both the frequency andthe combined data to pre-known values, pre-known patterns, or bothpre-known values and pre-set patterns. There can also be displaying analert or suggested action based upon the comparing.

A method can comprise: obtaining output signals from an eye sensorconfigured to produce the output signals that are indicative of eyemovement; shielding the output signals; amplifying the output signals toobtain amplified output signals; processing the amplified output signalsto determine a frequency and an combined data; wherein the frequency isof ocular microtremors (OMT) frequency and the combined data comprisescombined microsaccades (MS) amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS andOMT power, combined MS and OMT reactivity, or a combination thereof; anddisplaying the frequency and the combined data.

A method can comprise obtaining output signals from an eye sensorconfigured to produce the output signals that are indicative of eyemovement; shielding the output signals; amplifying the output signals toobtain amplified output signals; processing the amplified output signalsto determine a frequency and a combined data; wherein the frequency isocular microtremors (OMT) frequency and the combined data comprisescombined microsaccades (MS) amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS andOMT power, combined MS and OMT reactivity, or a combination thereof; andcomparing the frequency, the combined data, or both the frequency andthe combined data to pre-known values, pre-known patterns, or bothpre-known values and pre-set patterns. There can also be an alert orsuggested action based upon the comparing.

A method can comprise obtaining output signals from an eye sensorconfigured to produce the output signals that are indicative of eyemovement of an unconscious mammal; shielding the output signals;amplifying the output signals to obtain amplified output signals;processing the amplified output signals to determine a frequency and acombined data; wherein the frequency is ocular microtremors (OMT)frequency and the combined data comprises combined microsaccades (MS)amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS and OMT power, combined MS andOMT reactivity, or a combination thereof; and comparing the frequency,the combined data, or both the frequency and combined data to pre-knownvalues, pre-known patterns, or both pre-known values and pre-setpatterns. A method can comprise obtaining output signals from an eyesensor configured to produce the output signals that are indicative ofeye movement; processing the output signals to determine a frequency anda combined data; wherein the frequency is ocular microtremors (OMT)frequency and the combined data comprises combined microsaccades (MS)amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS and OMT power, combined MS andOMT reactivity, or a combination thereof; and detecting an eventaccording to the frequency, combined data or frequency and combineddata; evaluating the event; and comparing the frequency, the combineddata, or both the frequency and amplitude to pre-known values, pre-knownpatterns, or both pre-known values and pre-set patterns. The evaluatingthe event can comprise analyzing a fold change.

An apparatus can comprise a detector comprising: a sensor comprising: apiezoelectric element with a first surface and a second surface; a firstelectrically conductive surface in electrically coupled the firstsurface; and a second electrically conductive surface in electricallycoupled to the second surface; and a ribbon, coupled to the sensor,comprising: a trace; a conductive shield; and an electrical insulator;wherein the trace is electrically coupled with first electricallyconducting surface; the electrical insulator is located between firstelectrically conductive surface and the conductive shield; the sensor isconfigured to conform to a shape of an eye; and the sensor is configuredto register micro-movements of an eyeball having an amplitude of aneyeball arc length excursion between 0.1 and 400 micrometers.

An apparatus can comprise: a sensor comprising: a sensing elementcomprising: a piezoelectric element with a first surface and a secondsurface; a first electrically conductive surface in direct contact withfirst surface; a second electrically conductive surface in directcontact with second surface; and a flexible ribbon assembly comprising aconducting trace; a conductive shield; and an electrical insulator;wherein the conductive trace is in electrical communication with firstelectrically conducting surface; the electrical insulator is locatedbetween first electrically conductive surface and the conductive shield;the sensor is configured to conform to a shape of an eye; and a flexuralrigidity of the flexible ribbon assembly is less than or equal to10×10⁻⁴ lbs-in⁴.

An apparatus can comprise: a sensor comprising: a sensing elementcomprising: a piezoelectric element with a first surface and a secondsurface; a first electrically conductive surface in direct contact withfirst surface; a second electrically conductive surface in directcontact with second surface; and a flexible ribbon assembly comprising aconducting trace; a conductive shield; and an electrical insulator;wherein the conductive trace is in electrical communication with firstelectrically conducting surface; the electrical insulator is locatedbetween first electrically conductive surface and the conductive shield;the sensor is configured to conform to a shape of an eye; and thicknessof the ribbon assembly is less than or equal to 25 micrometers.

An apparatus can comprise: a detector comprising: a sensor comprising: asensing element; a conductive top surface abutting the sensing element;a conductive bottom surface abutting the sensing element; a ribboncomprising: a trace; and a conductive shield; wherein the ribbon iscoupled to the sensor; the trace is insulated from conductive shield;and the trace is coupled to either the conductive top surface or theconductive bottom surface.

An apparatus can comprise: a detector comprising: a sensor comprising: asensing element; a conductive top surface abutting the sensing element;a conductive bottom surface abutting the sensing element; a ribboncomprising: a trace; and a conductive shield; wherein the ribbon iscoupled to the sensor; the trace is insulated from conductive shield;and the trace is coupled to either the conductive top surface or theconductive bottom surface.

An apparatus can comprise: a detector comprising: a sensor comprising: asensing element; a conductive top surface abutting the sensing element;a conductive bottom surface abutting the sensing element; a ribboncomprising: a trace; and a conductive shield; wherein the ribbon iscoupled to the sensor; the trace is insulated from conductive shield;the trace is coupled to either the conductive top surface or theconductive bottom surface; the sensor is configured to conform to ashape of an eye; and the sensor is configured to registermicro-movements of an eyeball having an amplitude between 0.1 and 400micrometers of as low of an eyeball arc length excursion.

An apparatus can comprise: a detector comprising: a sensor comprising: asensing element; a conductive top surface abutting the sensing element;a conductive bottom surface abutting the sensing element; a ribboncomprising: a trace; and a conductive shield; wherein the ribbon iscoupled to the sensor; the trace is insulated from conductive shield;the trace is coupled to either the conductive top surface or theconductive bottom surface; the sensor is configured to conform to ashape of an eye; and a flexural rigidity of the ribbon assembly is lessthan or equal to 10×10⁻⁴ lbs-in⁴.

An apparatus can comprise comprising: a detector comprising: a sensorcomprising: a sensing element; a conductive top surface abutting thesensing element; a conductive bottom surface abutting the sensingelement; a ribbon comprising: a trace; and a conductive shield; whereinthe ribbon is coupled to the sensor; the trace is insulated fromconductive shield; the trace is coupled to either the conductive topsurface or the conductive bottom surface; the sensor is configured toconform to a shape of an eye; and thickness of the ribbon is less thanor equal to 25 micrometers.

A method comprising: providing an eye sensor as described herein;applying a sensor to a patient's eyelid; sedating the patient;monitoring output from the display; adjusting anesthetic administered tothe patient.

An apparatus comprising: an eye sensor comprising: a detector comprisinga sensor electrically coupled to a ribbon; an amplifier; a processorconfigured to process signals received from the amplifier to obtain aresult; and a display configured to display a result; wherein the eyesensor is electrically coupled to the amplifier; the amplifier is incommunication with the processor; and the processor is in communicationwith the display.

An apparatus comprising: an eye sensor comprising: a sensor comprising:a sensing element; a conductive top surface abutting the sensingelement; a conductive bottom surface abutting the sensing element; aribbon comprising: a first trace; and a conductive shield; wherein theribbon is coupled to the sensor; the first trace is insulated fromconductive shield; the first trace is coupled to either the conductivetop surface or the conductive bottom surface; an amplifier, electricallycoupled to the ribbon comprising a printed circuit board, wherein theprinted circuit board is configured to condition and amplify a signal; aprocessor configured to process the signal received from the amplifierto obtain one or more results; and a display configured to present theone or more results; wherein the eye sensor is electrically coupled tothe amplifier; the amplifier is in communication with the processor; andthe processor is in communication with the display. The sensing elementcan comprise a piezoelectric element. The sensing element can comprisemultiple piezoelectric elements. The sensing element can comprise an armactuator. The sensing element can comprise a piezoelectric element, andthe piezoelectric element defines a tubular shape; the conductive topsurface is located inside the piezoelectric element; and the conductivebottom surface is outside the piezoelectric element. The conductiveshield can comprise a top shielding layer and a bottom shielding layer.The ribbon can further comprise a second trace that is insulated fromconductive shield; the second trace is coupled to either the conductivetop surface or the conductive bottom surface that is not coupled to thefirst trace. The conductive top trace or the conductive bottom trace canbe electrically coupled to the conductive shield. The conductive shieldcan comprise a top shielding layer and the top shielding layer thatextends to cover the sensor. The conductive shield can extend to coverthe sensor. The ribbon can further comprise a terminal end, and theterminal end comprises an attachment and a terminal; wherein theattachment is electrically coupled to the attachment and the terminal iselectrically coupled to the first trace. The ribbon can comprise aterminal end, and it is the terminal end of the ribbon that is coupledto the amplifier. The amplifier can further comprise a housingelectrically coupled to the conductive shield. The amplifier can furthercomprise an amplifier grounding electrode that is configured to groundthe amplifier when in contact with a patient's skin. The amplifier canfurther comprise an adhesive patch that is electrically conductive. Theamplifier can be electrically coupled to the processor. The amplifiercan further comprise a wireless transmitter and the processor comprisesa wireless receiver. The result can comprise a frequency a combineddata; wherein the frequency is ocular microtremors (OMT) frequency andthe combined data comprises combined microsaccades (MS) amplitude andOMT amplitude, combined MS and OMT power, combined MS reactivity and OMTreactivity, or a combination thereof. The result can comprise afrequency and a combined data; wherein the frequency is ocularmicrotremors (OMT) frequency and the combined data comprises combinedmicrosaccades (MS) amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS and OMTpower, combined MS and OMT reactivity, or a combination thereof. The oneor more results can comprise: a frequency and a combined data; whereinthe frequency is ocular microtremors (OMT) frequency and the combineddata comprises combined microsaccades (MS) amplitude and OMT amplitude,combined MS and OMT power, combined MS and OMT reactivity, or acombination thereof; and an event defined by the frequency and thecombined data. The one or more results can further comprise anevaluation of the event. The one or more results can comprise: afrequency and a combined data; wherein the frequency is ocularmicrotremors (OMT) frequency and the combined data comprises combinedmicrosaccades (MS) amplitude and OMT amplitude, combined MS and OMTpower, combined MS and OMT reactivity, or a combination thereof; and acomparison of the frequency, the combined data, or the frequency andcombined data to other values. The display can be configured to presentthe one or more results one or more screens. The display is furtherconfigured to present the one or more results on one or more monitors.The display can be further configured to present the one or more resultson the same screen. The one or more results can comprise two or moreresults and the two or more results are contemporaneously with eachother.

A method can comprise: receiving output signals from a sensor, whereinthe sensor produces the output signals in response to eye movements;generating a frequency component and an amplitude component; wherein thefrequency component comprises an ocular microtremor (OMT) frequency, theamplitude component comprises a microsaccades (MS) amplitude, and theOMT frequency and the MS amplitude are obtained from the output signals;and producing a combined data set from the frequency component and theamplitude component, wherein the combined data set comprises thefrequency component, the amplitude component, and a time relationshipbetween the frequency component and the amplitude component. Theamplitude component further comprises an OMT amplitude, and the OMTamplitude is obtained from the output signals. The method can furthercomprise comparing the combined data set to at least one pre-knownreference value to obtain a comparison. The method can further compriseproducing a reference value; wherein the reference value is based on thecombined data set, the comparison or a combination of the combined dataset and the comparison. The sensor can sense eye movement through aneyelid. The method can further comprise creating output signals, whereinthe creating the output signals comprises: producing voltage in responseto eye movement by a piezoelectric element; and transmitting a currentalong an electrical connection. The method can further compriseamplifying the output signals to render amplified output signals, andthe generating the frequency component and the amplitude componentcomprises processing the amplified output signals. The generating thefrequency component and the amplitude component can comprises:processing the output signals by a processor; wherein the processing theoutput signals comprises: isolating eye movement attributed to OMT andMS, determining the frequency of the OMT, and determining a combined OMTMS amplitude, MS power, MS reactivity, or a combination thereof. Themethod can further comprise displaying results, wherein the displayingresults comprise presenting a representation of the frequency componentand the amplitude component, the combined data set, a reactivity of MSamplitude, or a combination thereof. The method can further comprisecomparing the frequency component, the amplitude component, the combineddata set, or combination thereof, to pre-known values, pre-knownpatterns, or both pre-known values and pre-set patterns. The method canfurther comprise displaying an alert or suggested action based upon thecomparing. The method can further comprise event detection and eventevaluation; wherein an event evaluation comprises determining areactivity of an event, long term and short term ratios, before-during-and after event comparative analyses, frequency numbers, or acombination thereof.

A method can comprise: receiving output signals from a sensor, whereinthe sensor produces the output signals in response to eye movements;deriving an ocular microtremor (OMT) component and a parametercomprising a microsaccades (MS) component; wherein the OMT component andthe parameter are obtained from the output signals; and producing acombined data set from the OMT component and the parameter; wherein theOMT component is derived from OMT frequency, OMT amplitude, OMT speed,or a combination thereof; and the parameter is derived from MSfrequency, MS amplitude, MS speed, or a combination thereof; and thecombined data set incorporates the OMT component, the parameter, and atime relationship between the OMT component and the parameter. Whereinthe OMT component can be derived from OMT frequency. The method canfurther comprise comparing the combined data set to at least onepre-known reference value to obtain a comparison. The method can furthercomprise producing a reference value; wherein the reference value isbased on the combined data set, the comparison or a combination thereof.The method can have the sensor sense eye movement through an eyelid. Themethod can further comprise creating output signals, wherein thecreating the output signals comprises: producing voltage in response toeye movement by a piezoelectric element; and transmitting a currentalong an electrical connection. The method can further compriseamplifying the output signals to render amplified output signals, andthe deriving the OMT component and the parameter comprise processing theamplified output signals. The deriving the OMT component and theparameter can comprise: processing the output signals by a processor;wherein the processing the output signals comprises isolating eyemovement attributed to OMT frequency of the OMT. The method can furthercomprise displaying results, wherein the displaying results compriseresenting a representation of the OMT component, the parameter, thecombined data set, reactivity, or a combination thereof.

An ocular micro tremor (eye) sensor responsive to fixational eyemovements of an eyeball of an individual which have an amplitude of aneyeball arc length excursion between 0.1 and 400 micrometers forproviding an indication of the brain stem activity of the individual,said eye sensor can comprise an electrically active sensing elementcapable of converting said fixational eye movements to an electricalbiosignal, said electrically active sensing element being attached tothe skin of the individual so that said sensing element conforms to theshape of the individual's eyelid in order to receive the fixational eyemovements of the individual's eyeball by way of the eyelid and generatesaid electrical biosignal in response to said fixational eye movements.The electrically active sensing element can comprise at least oneflexible piezoelectric layer having an upper surface and a lowersurface, a first electrically conductive material on said upper surfaceand a second electrically conductive material on said lower surface,said electrically active sensing element being attached to andconforming to the shape of the eyelid of the individual such that theflexible piezoelectric layer of said sensing element is in receipt ofand deflected by the fixational eye movements of the individual'seyeball by way of his eyelid, whereby said electrical biosignal isgenerated between said first and second electrically conductivematerials on the upper and lower surfaces of the flexible piezoelectriclayer of said electrically active sensing element in response to thedeflections of said flexible piezoelectric layer caused by saidfixational eye movements. The eye sensor can include a flexible ribbonassembly electrically connected to said electrically active sensingelement to receive the biosignal generated thereby, said flexible ribbonassembly comprising an upper layer having a first electricallyconductive trace running therealong and a lower layer having a secondelectrically conductive trace running therealong, said firstelectrically conductive trace making electrical contact with the firstelectrically conductive material on the upper surface of said flexiblepiezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensing element, andsaid second electrically conductive trace making electrical contact withthe second electrically conductive material on the lower surface of saidflexible piezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensingelement. The eye sensor can comprise an adhesive patch attached to thelower layer of said flexible ribbon assembly by which said flexibleribbon assembly is adhesively attached to the skin of the individual.Each of the upper and lower layers of said flexible ribbon assembly canbe manufactured from a non-conductive material and has a top and abottom, said first electrically conductive trace running along thebottom of said upper non-conductive layer, and said second electricallyconductive trace running along the top of said lower non-conductivelayer, said upper non-conductive layer located above said lowernon-conductive layer and said first and second electrically conductivetraces being electrically isolated from one another along said upper andlower non-conductive layers. Each of the top of said uppernon-conductive layer and the bottom of said lower non-conductive layerof said flexible ribbon assembly can have an electrically conductiveelectromagnetic shielding surface located thereon, said electricallyactive sensing element and the first and second electrically conductivetraces running along respective ones of the upper and lowernon-conductive layers of said flexible ribbon assembly being surroundedby said electrically conductive shielding surfaces. The electricallyconductive electromagnetic shielding surfaces located on the top of saidupper non-conductive layer and the bottom of said lower non-conductivelayer of said flexible ribbon assembly can be connected to each otherand grounded at the skin of the individual. The flexible ribbon assemblycan also comprise a first electrically conductive pad located between afirst end of said first electrically conductive trace and the firstelectrically conductive material on the upper surface of the flexiblepiezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensing element and asecond electrically conductive pad located between a first end of saidsecond electrically conductive trace and the second electricallyconductive material on the lower surface of the flexible piezoelectriclayer of said electrically active sensing element. The upper and lowernon-conductive layers of said flexible ribbon assembly can be retainedone above the other such that said electrically active sensing elementand said first and second electrically conductive pads are located, insome embodiments sandwiched, between the first end of the firstelectrically conductive trace which runs along the bottom of said uppernon-conductive layer and the first end of the second electricallyconductive trace which runs along the top of said lower non-conductivelayer. The flexible ribbon assembly also comprising a third electricallyconductive pad located between the opposite end of said firstelectrically conductive trace and a first output terminal of saidflexible ribbon assembly, and a fourth electrically conductive padlocated between the opposite end of said second electrically conductivetrace and a second output terminal of said flexible ribbon assembly,such that the first and second electrically conductive materials layingon respective ones of the upper and lower surfaces of the flexiblepiezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensing element areelectrically connected to respective ones of the first and second outputterminals of said flexible ribbon assembly by way of said first andsecond electrically conductive traces, whereby said electrical biosignalis supplied from said electrically active sensing element to said firstand second output terminals. The third electrically conductive pad canbe located, in some embodiments sandwiched, between the opposite end ofsaid first electrically conductive trace and the first output terminalof said flexible ribbon assembly, and the fourth electrically conductivepad is located, in some embodiments sandwiched, between the opposite endof said second electrically conductive trace and the second outputterminal of said flexible ribbon assembly. The eye sensor can alsoinclude an eye signal amplifier having signal amplifying circuitry and agrounding electrode connected to electrical ground at the individual'sskin, said flexible ribbon assembly connected between said electricallyactive sensing element and said eye signal amplifier by which to supplythe electrical biosignal generated by said electrically active sensingelement to said eye signal amplifier at which to be amplified by thesignal amplifying circuitry thereof. The eye signal amplifier can alsohave a housing to enclose said signal amplifying circuitry and anelectrically conductive adhesive patch by which said housing isadhesively attached to the skin of the individual. The housing of saideye signal amplifier can is manufactured from an electrically conductiveelectromagnetic shielding material, said amplifier housing connected toelectrical ground at the individual's skin by way of said groundingelectrode. The eye signal amplifier can also have a wireless transmitterto transmit the electrical biosignal supplied to and amplified by thesignal amplifying circuitry of said eye signal amplifier to a locationthat is remote from said eye signal amplifier over a wirelesscommunication path. The first and second electrically conductive tracesrunning along the upper and lower non-conductive layers of said flexibleribbon assembly can be electrically connected from respective ones ofthe first and second electrically conductive materials on the upper andlower surfaces of said flexible piezoelectric layer of said electricallyactive sensing element to the signal amplifying circuitry of said eyesignal amplifier so as to supply the electrical biosignal generated bysaid electrically active sensing element to said circuitry foramplification. The eye signal amplifier can also have first and secondelectrically conductive cushion supports lying in electrical contactwith respective ones of the electrically conductive electromagneticshielding surfaces located on the top of said upper non-conductive layerand on the bottom of said lower non-conductive layer of said flexibleribbon assembly, said first and second electrically conductive cushionsupports being electrically connected to one another and to electricalground at the individual's skin by way of the grounding electrode ofsaid eye signal amplifier.

A system for generating an electrical biosignal that is indicative ofthe brain stem activity of an individual, said system can comprise: apiezo-active sensing element to be attached to an eyelid of theindividual at which to be responsive to fixational eye movements of aneyeball of the individual and thereby generate said electricalbiosignal, said piezo-active sensing element having at least oneflexible piezoelectric layer with a top and a bottom, a firstelectrically conductive material located on the top of saidpiezoelectric layer, and a second electrically conductive materiallocated on the bottom of said piezoelectric layer, said flexiblepiezoelectric layer being deflected by the fixational eye movements ofthe individual's eyeball such that said biosignal is generated betweenthe first and second electrically conductive materials located at thetop and at the bottom of said flexible piezoelectric layer in responseto the deflections thereof; an amplifier located on the skin of theindividual to receive and amplify the electrical biosignal generated inresponse to the deflections of the flexible piezoelectric layer of saidpiezo-active sensing element; and a ribbon assembly having first andsecond non-conductive layers, each of said first and secondnon-conductive layers having a respective electrically conductive tracerunning therealong, the electrically conductive trace running along thefirst non-conductive layer of said ribbon assembly connected betweensaid amplifier and the first electrically conductive material located onthe top of the flexible piezoelectric layer of said piezo-active sensingelement, and the electrically conductive trace running along the secondnon-conductive layer of said ribbon assembly connected between saidamplifier and the second electrically conductive material located on thebottom of the flexible piezoelectric layer of said piezo-active sensingelement. The electrically conductive traces of said ribbon assembly canrun along one side of respective ones of said first and secondnon-conductive layers, each of the opposite sides of the first andsecond non-conductive layers of said ribbon assembly being covered by anelectrically conductive electromagnetic shielding surface, theelectrically conductive electromagnetic shielding surfaces at theopposite sides of said first and second non-conductive layers beingconnected to each other and to electrical ground at the skin of theindividual. The electrical biosignal can be generated by the flexiblepiezoelectric layer of said piezo-active sensing element and amplifiedby said amplifier is an alternating voltage analog biosignal having afrequency over time, said system further comprising: an analog todigital converter to convert the analog biosignal to a digitalbiosignal; filters to eliminate any portion of the digital biosignalhaving an amplitude that exceeds a predetermined amplitude; and adisplay to show a representation of the digital biosignal.

A system for generating an electrical biosignal that is indicative ofthe brain stem activity of an individual, said system can comprise: apiezo-active sensing element to be attached to the individual's skin atwhich to be responsive to fixational eye movements of an eyeball of theindividual and thereby generate said electrical biosignal in response tosaid fixational eye movements, said piezo-active sensing element havingat least one flexible piezoelectric layer with a top and a bottom, afirst electrically conductive material located on the top of saidflexible piezoelectric layer, and a second electrically conductivematerial located on the bottom of said flexible piezoelectric layer,said flexible piezoelectric layer being deflected by the fixational eyemovements of the individual's eyeball such that said electricalbiosignal is generated between the first and second electricallyconductive materials located on the top and on the bottom of saidflexible piezoelectric layer in response to the deflections thereof; andan amplifier to be attached to the individual's skin to receive andamplify the electrical biosignal generated as a result of thedeflections of the flexible piezoelectric layer of said piezo-activesensing element. The flexible piezoelectric layer of said piezo-activesensing element is attached to an eyelid of the individual to conform tothe shape of the eyelid in order to receive and be deflected by thefixational eye movements of the individual's eyeball by way of theeyelid. The electrical biosignal received and amplified by saidamplifier can be an analog voltage biosignal, said system alsocomprising an analog to digital converter to convert the analog voltagebiosignal to a digital biosignal; filters which eliminate any portion ofthe digital voltage biosignal which has an amplitude that exceeds apredetermined amplitude; and a display to show a representation of thedigital biosignal. The system can further comprise a transceiver andwherein said amplifier comprises a wireless transmitter by which totransmit the amplified biosignal to said transceiver over a wirelesscommunication path. The amplifier can communicate with the flexiblepiezoelectric layer of said piezo-active sensing element by means of aribbon assembly having first and second non-conductive layers, each ofthe first and second non-conductive layers of said ribbon assemblyhaving a respective electrically conductive trace running therealong,the electrically conductive trace running along the first non-conductivelayer of said ribbon assembly connected between said amplifier and thefirst electrically conductive material located on the top of theflexible piezoelectric layer of said piezo-active sensing element, andthe electrically conductive trace running along the secondnon-conductive layer of said ribbon assembly connected between saidamplifier and the second electrically conductive material located on thebottom of the flexible piezoelectric layer of said piezo-active sensingelement.

A method for generating an electrical biosignal that is indicative ofthe brain stem activity of an individual by means of an electricallyactive sensing element that is capable of converting fixational eyemovements of an eyeball of the individual which have an amplitude of aneyeball arc length excursion between 0.1 and 400 micrometers into theelectrical biosignal, said method can comprise the steps of attachingsaid electrically active sensing element to an eyelid of the individualso that said sensing element conforms to the shape of the eyelid inorder to receive the fixational eye movements of the individual'seyeball through the eyelid. The method can comprise the additional stepof amplifying the electrical biosignal generated by means of saidelectrically active sensing element. The method can comprising theadditional steps of amplifying the electrical biosignal by means of anamplifier; locating the amplifier on the individual's skin; transmittingthe amplified electrical biosignal from said amplifier to a signalprocessor over a wireless communication path; and comparing theamplified electrical biosignal with a known reference signal. Theelectrically active sensing element comprises at least one flexiblepiezoelectric layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, a firstelectrically conductive material located on said upper surface and asecond electrically conductive material located on said lower surface,the flexible piezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensingelement can be attached to and conforming to the shape of the eyelid ofthe individual such that said flexible piezoelectric layer is in receiptof and deflected by the fixational eye movements of the individual'seyeball, said method comprising the additional steps of: generating theelectrical biosignal between the first and second electricallyconductive materials located on the upper and lower surfaces of theflexible piezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensingelement; amplifying the electrical biosignal by means of an amplifierattached to the individual's skin; supplying the electrical biosignalfrom said electrically active sensing element to said amplifier by wayof a ribbon assembly having first and second non-conductive layers,wherein each of the first and second non-conductive layers of saidribbon assembly has an electrically conductive trace running therealong,the electrically conductive trace running along the first non-conductivelayer of said ribbon assembly connected between said amplifier and thefirst electrically conductive material located on the upper surface ofthe flexible piezoelectric layer of said electrically active sensingelement, and the electrically conductive trace running along the secondnon-conductive layer of said ribbon assembly connected between saidamplifier and the second electrically conductive material located on thelower surface of the flexible piezoelectric layer of said electricallyactive sensing element. The method can comprise the additional steps of:covering the first non-conductive layer of said ribbon assembly with afirst electromagnetic shielding material which lies opposite theelectrically conductive trace running along said first non-conductivelayer; and covering the second non-conductive layer of said ribbonassembly with a second electromagnetic shielding material which liesopposite the electrically conductive trace running along said secondnon-conductive layer, said first and second electromagnetic shieldingmaterials surrounding said ribbon assembly so as to be electricallyisolated from and enclose the electrically conductive traces runningalong the first and second non-conductive layers of said ribbon assemblyand the first and second electrically conductive materials located onthe upper and lower surfaces of the flexible piezoelectric layer of saidelectrically active sensing element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an anesthesiologist watching an embodiment of a display toview graphical and numerical representations of an electrical biosignalwhich are indicative of the brain stem activity and level ofconsciousness of a sedated patient who undergoes an operation whilewearing the eye sensor.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of a multiple layer piezoelectric element ofthe detector of FIG. 1 attached to a closed eyelid of the patient atwhich to be responsive to fixational eye movements of the patient'seyeball so that the biosignal is generated by the sensing element andsupplied to an eye signal amplifier mounted at the eye.

FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the detector taken along lines 3-3 of FIG.2.

FIG. 3A is an enlarged detail taken from FIG. 3 showing a multiple layerpiezoelectric element of the detector lying on the closed eyelid of thepatient.

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the eye detector taken along lines 4-4 ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows an embodiment the piezoelectric element of the detector ofFIG. 1 located within the tissue folds of the patient's open eyelid atwhich to be responsive to the fixational eye movements of the patient'seyeball so that the fixational eye movement biosignal is generated bythe sensing element and supplied to the eye signal amplifier.

FIG. 6 is a cross-section of the detector taken along lines 6-6 of FIG.5.

FIG. 7 shows the eye detector of FIG. 5 including a wireless eye signalamplifier.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment for the multiple layer piezoelectric elementof the detector of FIG. 1 which is deflected in response to thefixational eye movements of the patient's eyeball to which the sensingelement is responsive in order to generate the eye biosignal.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show an embodiment of the multiple layer piezoelectricelement of FIG. 8 being deflected in different directions to generatethe fixational eye movement biosignal depending upon the direction ofthe fixational eye movements of the patient's eyeball.

FIG. 11 shows the eye signal amplifier of the eye sensor of FIG. 2 beingdetachably connected to a grounding electrode that is attached by anelectrically conductive adhesive patch to the patient's skin.

FIG. 12 is a cross-section of the eye signal amplifier taken along lines12-12 of FIG. 11.

FIG. 13A is an exploded view of an embodiment of a detector comprising amultiple layer piezoelectric element of FIGS. 8-10 is electricallyconnected to the eye signal amplifier of FIG. 12.

FIG. 13B is an exploded view of an embodiment of a detector.

FIG. 13C is cross-section of an embodiment of a ribbon.

FIG. 13D is a cross-section of an embodiment of a detector and FIG. 13Eis a cross-section of an embodiment of an amplifier.

FIG. 14 is a top view of the shielded flexible ribbon assembly of FIG.13 connected at a proximal end thereof to the multiple layerpiezoelectric element of FIGS. 8-10 and at a terminal end to anelectrical connector block of the eye signal amplifier of FIG. 12.

FIG. 15 is a cross-section of the shielded flexible ribbon assemblytaken along lines 15-15 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a cross-section of the shielded flexible ribbon assemblytaken along lines 16-16 of FIG. 14.

FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustration of an embodiment of acommunication system in which the eye sensor of FIG. 2 is coupled to asignal processor and to the display of FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustration of an embodiment of acommunication system in which the eye sensor of FIG. 7 is coupled to asignal processor and to the display of FIG. 1 over a wirelesscommunication path.

FIG. 19 shows an embodiment for an detector which comprises a mechanicalforce transmitting arm actuator that is attached to the patient's eyelidat which to be deflected in response to fixational eye movements of thepatient's eyeball transmitted thereto so that an electrical biosignalcan be generated by a piezoelectric element of the sensor.

FIGS. 20-22 show a different embodiment for an ocular microtremor (eye)sensor having a tubular surface-mounted detector that is located withinthe folds of the patient's eyelid at which to undergo a shape distortionin response to fixational eye movements of the patient's eyeballtransmitted thereto for generating an electrical biosignal.

FIG. 23 is an enlarged detail of a tubular-to-planar strain reliefadapter taken from the detector shown in FIG. 20.

FIG. 24 shows yet another embodiment for an ocular microtremor (eye)sensor having a cylindrical force transmitting actuator that is locatedwithin the folds of the patient's eyelid at which to undergo a shapedistortion in response to fixational eye movements of the patient'seyeball transmitted thereto so that an electrical biosignal can begenerated by a piezo-active sensing element of the detector.

FIG. 25 shows a representation of fixational eye movements within acircle having a 25 micrometer radius.

FIG. 26 shows an embodiment for a routine to process eye movement data.

FIGS. 27A, 27B, and 27C show an example of data from 13 different testsubjects on different brainstem activity routines, and FIG. 28 shows OMTresults in the case of an outpatient colonoscopy diagnostic procedure;and

FIG. 29 shows an example of a test showing OMT and a Fold changereactivity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,where appropriate, reference numerals and/or names have been repeatedamong the different figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. In addition, numerous specific details are set forth in orderto provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments described herein.However, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat the embodiments described herein can be practiced without thesespecific details. In other instances, methods, procedures and componentshave not been described in detail so as not to obscure the relatedrelevant feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily toscale and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to betterillustrate details and features. The description is not to be consideredas limiting the scope of the embodiments described herein. It should benoted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure arenot necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean atleast one.

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure will now bepresented.

The term “coupled” is defined as connected, whether directly orindirectly through intervening components and is not necessarily limitedto physical connections. The connection can be such that the objects arepermanently connected or releasably connected. The term “electricallycoupled” is defined as being in structural electrical contact, whetherdirectly or indirectly through intervening components, to allow the flowof electrons between the respective elements. The connection can be suchthat the objects are also “coupled”. The term “outside” refers to aregion that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object. Theterm “inside” indicates that at least a portion of a region is partiallycontained within a boundary formed by the object. The term“substantially” is defined to be essentially conforming to theparticular dimension, shape or other word that substantially modifies,such that the component need not be exact. For example, substantiallycylindrical means that the object resembles a cylinder, but can have oneor more deviations from a true cylinder. The term “comprising” means“including, but not necessarily limited to”; it specifically indicatesopen-ended inclusion or membership in a so-described combination, group,series and the like.

As can be seen in FIG. 25, a representation of the fixational eyemovements. To give scale, the radius of the circle is just 25micrometers, approximately the size of one human hair. The eye istypically always moving about. The larger movements are drift and MS.The drift is a very slow movement, while the long, quick andsubstantially linear movements are the MS. The OMT and the drift occurat the same time. Ocular drift is the fixational eye movementcharacterized by a smoother, slower, roaming motion of the eye. Theexact movement of ocular drift is often compared to Brownian motion,which is the random motion of a particle suspended in fluid as a resultof its collision with the atoms and molecules that comprise that fluid.The movement can also be compared to a random walk, characterized byrandom and often erratic changes in direction. Although the frequency ofocular drifts is usually lower than the frequency of OMT (from 20 to 40Hz compared to from 40 to 100 Hz), it is problematic to distinguishocular drifts and ocular microtremors in the range from 30 to 40 Hz.Resolution of intersaccadic eye movements is technically challenging.The OMT are small, quick, and synchronized oscillations of the eyesoccurring at frequencies in a range of 40 to 100 Hz, although theytypically occur at around 90 Hz in the average healthy individual. TheMS, also known as “flicks”, are saccades, involuntarily, produced duringthe fixation periods. They are the largest and fastest of the fixationaleye movements.

Referring initially to FIG. 1 of the drawings, there is shown a monitorsuch as healthcare practitioner, an anesthesiologist, intensivist,clinician, or the like, monitoring a patient who is unconscious andsedated. The monitor is able to acquire eye signal information, processit with pre-programmed routines, store and display multiple parameterssimultaneously. The monitor is able to determine the brain stem activityand altered brainstem state of the patient to measure his level ofsedation, consciousness, and responsiveness by virtue of a compact, lowcost and highly compliant eye sensor 1. The eye sensor 1 is shown inFIG. 1 positioned at the eyelid 20 of the patient so as to beadvantageously able to reliably sense the fixational eye movements ofthe patient's eyeball in order to provide the monitor with an indicationof the patient's awareness during a medical procedure (e.g., in anoperating room or intensive care facility). Fixational eye movements arepresent always (except on death and a few rare conditions) even when theeyes are apparently at rest, and occur involuntarily. Similarly, thebody is nearly always undergoing stimulation, whether from the outsideworld, exogenously, or whether from within the body, endogenously. Forexample, hypoxic stimuli, which originate in the periphery, facilitatecardiopulmonary regulation and are processed continuously by thebrainstem. Since the brainstem is constantly stimulated and since thefixational movements are always present, we can employ microsaccades andOMT and combinations thereof through the use of this inventionproductively in nearly all clinical and behavioral conditions.

However, it is to be understood that the eye sensor 1 herein disclosedcan also be used to monitor and provide an indication of the alertness,awareness, arousal, diagnosis of injury and behavior modification of anindividual in both medical and industrial environments. The eye sensor 1also is also capable of monitoring any condition or circumstance inwhich it is desirable to obtain a measurement of brain stem activity ofan individual to be compared against a known reference. To this end, theeye sensor 1 of this invention is advantageously capable of beingattached directly over the patient's closed eyelid or in the tissuefolds adjacent the patient's eyelid. While the eye sensor 1 willsometimes be referred to herein as having particular application for useby a patient in the care of a monitor or similar healthcarepractitioner, it is to be once again understood that the eye sensor 1can also be used in an industrial or other non-medical environments totest the alertness of one wishing to drive, operate machinery, performcomplex tasks, etc.

The eye sensor 1 of FIG. 1 comprises a detector 11 and an amplifier 3.The detector 11 comprises a sensor (designated 16 in FIGS. 8-10). Insome embodiments, the sensor 16 (designated 16 in FIGS. 8-10) comprisesa multi-layer piezoelectric element that is electrically coupled to anamplifier 3 by way of a ribbon 5. The output of the amplifier 3 issupplied to a signal processor 9 (best shown in FIG. 17) by means of ashielded cable 7. The signal processor 9, in turn, is electricallyconnected to a visual display 10. The details of the sensor 16, theribbon 5, as well as the amplifier 3 to which the sensor 16 is coupledto form the eye sensor 1 will be described in greater detailhereinafter.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the visual display 10 which communicateswith the signal processor 9 (of FIG. 17) to display informationgenerated by the eye sensor 1. The display 10 can also provideinformation during a preliminary baseline test and/or when the patientis semi-conscious or fully conscious, alert and not sedated. By way ofexample only, the display 10 shows a fixational eye movement biosignal12 that is generated by the eye sensor 1 in response to fixational eyemovements of the patient's eyeball. The shape andamplitude/power/reactivity of the fixational eye movement biosignal 12provide a graphical representation of the patient's brain stem activityand his level of consciousness over a particular sampling time. Thefixational eye movements comprise of MS and OMT. The OMT biosignal isgenerally an alternating voltage waveform that is reflective of the OMTof the patient's eyeball to which the eye sensor 1 is responsive by wayof the patient's eyelid. The combined OMT/MS power reactivity signaltends to be erratic and eventful, with long steady calm periodsinterrupted by the rapid onset of steep increases, peaks, and valleys.

In addition, the display 10 also shows a discrete reference number 14 tobe computed by the signal processor 9 for easy visual reference by themonitor. By way of example, the reference number 14 being displayed isdependent upon the fixational eye movements of the eyeball and thecorresponding frequency of the waveform of the fixational eye movementbiosignal 12 in order to provide another indication of the patient'sbrain stem activity and his level of consciousness, sedation, andresponsiveness.

Turning now to FIGS. 2-4 of the drawings, an embodiment of the sensor 16(of FIGS. 8-10) is shown attached to a closed eyelid of an individual,such as a patient who is heavily sedated while undergoing an operationin an operating room. However, and as indicated previously, the sensor16 can also be attached to the eyelid of an individual undergoingevaluation in many settings (e.g. intensive care unit, industrial andother non-medical environments). In some embodiments, the patient'seyelid 20 is held closed prior to the attachment of the sensor 16. Adouble-sided pressure sensitive adhesive patch 100 (shown in in FIGS. 3Aand 13) can be used to hold the sensor 16 against the patient's closedeyelid above the patient's eyeball at which to be responsive to thefixational eye movements of the eyeball and thereby provide thefixational eye movement biosignal 12 (of FIG. 1) by way of the ribbon 5to the amplifier 3. The amplifier 3 provides an amplified analog signalof the fixational eye movement biosignal 12 to the signal processor 9 sothat both graphical and numerical representations of the patient's brainstem activity including his level of consciousness, sedation, andresponsiveness are visually available to the monitor on the display 10.

However, there are instances when it would be desirable to be able touse the eye sensor 1 to measure and indicate the patient's brain stemactivity and his level of consciousness when his eyelid is fully orpartially open. In this case, and referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 of thedrawings, the eye sensor 1 is shown attached to the patient's rolled upeyelid. For example, the eye sensor 1 is shown being used in the mannershown in FIGS. 5 and 6 at those times when the patient is lightly,moderately or not sedated, when the patient's eyelid is alternatelybeing opened and closed, or when the patient's eyelid is fully open,such as while a preliminary baseline test is being conducted.

By virtue of the foregoing, the patient's brain stem activity and levelof consciousness can be continuously monitored to enable intervention bythe monitor or other healthcare practitioner when necessary. Because theeye sensor 1 including the sensor 16 (of FIGS. 8-10) and the ribbon 5 isthin and compliant, the sensor 16 may be advantageously attached, asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6, between the tissue folds of the patient's openedeyelid at which the sensor 16 of detector 11 is responsive to thefixational eye movements of the patient's eyeball.

In FIGS. 1-6, the amplifier 3 is shown as being connected to a signalprocessor (designated 9 in FIG. 17) by means of a shielded cable 7.However, as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings, it is within the scope ofthis invention for the amplifier 3 to be replaced by a wireless eyesignal amplifier 3-1. In this case, the shielded cable (designated 7 inFIG. 5) will now be eliminated. Moreover, in some embodiments, thewireless eye signal amplifier 3-1 is provided with an analog-to-digitalconverter (designated 110 in FIG. 18) and a conventional wirelesstransmitter (designated 116 in FIG. 18), and the signal processor(designated 9-1 in FIG. 18) is provided with a complimentary wirelesstransceiver 118. In this manner, the amplified fixational eye movementbiosignal 12 can be transmitted from the amplifier 3-1 to the signalprocessor 9-1 at a remote location and over a wireless communicationpath.

Details of an embodiment the sensor 16 shown in FIGS. 1-6 are nowdisclosed while referring to FIGS. 8-10 of the drawings. As waspreviously explained, the sensor 16 is held against the moving surfaceof the patient's opened or closed eyelid (represented generally byreference numeral 20 in FIGS. 8-10) so as to be responsive to thefixational eye movements of the patient's eyeball which have anamplitude of an eyeball arc length excursion between 0.1 and 400micrometers and thereby provide a corresponding alternating voltagefixational eye movement biosignal to the soon-to-be-described eye signalamplifier (designated 3 in FIG. 1).

In some embodiments, an electrically conductive (e.g., copper) topsurface 28 is applied to the top of the sensing element 30 to establisha first output terminal. An electrically conductive (e.g., copper)bottom surface 32 is applied to the bottom of the sensing element 30 toestablish a second output terminal.

In some embodiments, the sensor 16 comprises a piezo-electric thinplanar top layer 22, a thin planar bottom layer 24 and an intermediatebonding agent 26 (e.g., epoxy) located therebetween to form alayered-type structure. A first electrically conductive (e.g., copper)top surface 28 is applied to the outside of a flexible firstpiezoelectric (e.g., PVDF) film 30 from the top layer 22 of the sensor16 to establish a first output terminal. An electrically conductive(e.g., copper) bottom surface 32 is applied to the outside of a flexiblesecond piezoelectric film 34 from the bottom layer 24 of sensor 16 toestablish a second output terminal. Each of the first piezoelectric film30 and second piezoelectric film 34 of the top layer 22 and bottom layer24 of sensor 16 which face one another are held in opposing alignment bythe intermediate bonding agent 26. The length and width of the firstpiezoelectric film 30 and second piezoelectric film 34 may be largerthan the respective length and width of the top surface 28 and thebottom surface 32 so as to avoid undesired electrical communicationbetween the top surface 28 and bottom surface 32. In some embodiments,the thickness of the sensor 16 shown in FIGS. 8-10 is between 20 to 150microns.

In some embodiments, the sensor 16 is able to generate a voltage as thesensing element is deflected in response to the fixational eye movementsof the patient's eyeball which create a corresponding motion through theeyelid 20 above which the sensor 16 is attached. That is to say; thesensor 16 is deformed and deflected by the movements of the patient'seyelid 20 caused by the fixational eye movements of the eyeball. In thecase where the sensor 16 is at rest as shown in FIG. 8, no voltage isgenerated by the sensor 16 between the first and second output terminalsat the top surface 28 and bottom surface 32. In the case where thesensor 16 is deflected in a first direction by the movement of thepatient's eyelid 20 in the same first direction as shown in FIG. 9, apositive voltage is generated by the sensor 16 between the outputterminals at the top surface 28 and bottom surface 32. In the case wherethe sensor 16 is deflected in the opposite direction by the movement ofthe patient's eyelid 20 in the same opposite direction as shown in FIG.10, a negative voltage is generated by the sensor 16 between the outputterminals at the top surface 28 and bottom surface 32.

Because the fixational eye movements of the patient's eyeball typicallyoccur at nanometer and micrometer levels across a range of frequenciesand with variable intensity, the sensor 16 is designed to be flex backand forth at in like correspondence, so as to generate biosignals. Theamplitude, positive or negative direction, and frequency of thefixational eye movements to which the sensor 16 is responsive areisolated, processed and re-integrated and reflected graphically in atime synchronized manner so as to illustrate various events and patternsand numerically by the displayed traces e.g. 12 and the summaryreference values e.g. 14 that are visually accessible to the user on thedisplay 10 of FIG. 1.

It is to be expressly understood while the sensor 16 is shown ascomprising a pair of piezoelectric elements (the first piezoelectricfilm 30 and second piezoelectric film 34), in the drawings, it isdisclosed that sensor 16 can comprise one or more piezoelectricelements, and the top and bottom thereof will have electricallyconductive surfaces which lie thereon to establish the aforementionedfirst and second output terminals between which the fixational eyemovement biosignal is generated. In some embodiments, the sensor 16comprises a single piezoelectric element, in others, the sensorcomprises of 3 or more piezoelectric elements.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 3 and 3A of the drawings, a position isdescribed in which the sensor 16 of the detector 11 shown in FIGS. 8-10is held against the patient's fully closed eyelid. As an importantfeature of some embodiments, the sensor 16 is sufficiently thin (asexplained when referring to FIGS. 8-10) and compliant to assume agenerally arcuate (e.g., curved) configuration in order to conform tothe shape of the patient's eyelid when the sensing element is attachedthereto by means of the adhesive 100. The adhesive can be a double-sidedpressure sensitive adhesive patch. In some embodiments, the sensor 16surrounds at least some of the patient's closed eyelid and is sized soas to be large enough to cover angular excursions of the eyeball yetsmall enough to be placed within the eye socket.

In this regard, the sensor 16 of this can be sized such that it willcover a relatively large surface area of the eyelid so as to beresponsive to a full range of motion of the patient's eyeballtransmitted through the eyelid. Moreover, the pressure applied to theeyelid by the sensor 16 is more uniformly distributed around the eyelidthan some conventional focused pressure sensing elements. Accordingly,the sensor 16 will be more comfortable to wear for longer periods, isless costly and easier to accurately position at the eyelid to achieve areliable response than some conventional focused pressure sensingelements. Therefore, the eye sensor 1 can be comfortably fitted to thepatient such that the sensor 16 thereof is unlikely to be noticed orobjected to.

The sensor 16 is shown in FIG. 3A conforming to the shape of thepatient's eyelid and being coupled to the ribbon 5. As will be describedin greater detail when referring to FIGS. 16-18, the sensor 16 issurrounded by upper strip 62 and lower strip 64 of the ribbon 5. The topshielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer 72 lay over theoutside surfaces of respective ones of the upper strip 62 and lowerstrip 64 to provide the ribbon 5 with shielding. The shielding willavoid subjecting the biosignal generated by the sensor 16 andtransmitted via the ribbon 5 to electrical and electromagnetic noise andother interference.

An embodiment of the amplifier 3 is described while referring to FIGS.11 and 12. To isolate the electrical components of the amplifier 3 andthereby prevent environmental electrical and electromagneticinterference from altering the information contained by the eyebiosignal, the amplifier 3 is provided with a conductive amplifierhousing 38 having a removable lid 40. The sensor 16 is electricallyconnected to the amplifier 3 by way of the ribbon 5 (best shown in FIGS.13-16).

When in use ribbon 5 can be of such a length that slack is presentbetween the sensor 16 and the amplifier 3 so as to avoid applying loadsor pulling forces to the patient's eyelid and thereby inducing apossible unintended response by the sensor 16.

In some embodiments, an amplifier grounding electrode 44 comprising aflat conductive base 45 is to abut the patient's skin. In someembodiments, an electrically conductive adhesive patch 46 (e.g., acommon EKG electrode patch) attaches the bottom of the amplifier housing38 to the patient. The amplifier 3 can be located near the sensor 16 soas to reduce the overall area of the ribbon cable but in a slack mannerso as to avoid applying a pulling force against the ribbon 5. Anelectrical receptacle 56 inside the amplifier housing 38 is coupled tothe amplifier grounding electrode 44. The adhesive patch 46 anchors theamplifier 3 in place and the conductive base against the patient's skin.The attachment helps prevent a displacement of the amplifier 3 relativeto the ribbon 5 during monitoring. It should be recognized that otherconventional electrical and mechanical (e.g., straps, glue, suction)amplifier attachment means can be substituted for the electricallyconductive adhesive patch 46 just so that the amplifier is grounded.

To ensure that the amplified alternating voltage signals generated bythe amplifier 3 are not altered by the environment, the electricallyconductive amplifier housing 38, the top shielding layer 70, and thebottom shielding layer 72 can be electrically coupled to electricalground. In some embodiments, electrical paths are established to groundfrom top shielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer 72 of theribbon 5 and the amplifier housing 38 of the amplifier 3 to thepatient's skin at the amplifier grounding electrode 44 which is held inplace against the skin by the electrically conductive adhesive patch 46.In some embodiments, the electrically conductive amplifier housing 38,the top shielding layer 70, and the bottom shielding layer 72 areelectrically coupled to a grounded item besides the patient. Details ofthese electrical paths to ground at the patient's skin are describedbelow.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, the ribbon 5 is connected at aproximal end thereof to the sensor 16 (best shown in FIG. 13) and at theterminal end 51 to an electrical connector block 48 that is located inthe interior of the amplifier housing 38. A first electricallyconductive (e.g., mesh) pillow 50 is positioned within amplifier housing38 so as to lie between the removable lid 40 thereof and the topshielding layer 70 that runs over the top of the ribbon 5. A secondelectrically conductive pillow 52 is positioned within amplifier housing38 so as to lie between the electrically conductive shielding 72 thatruns over the bottom of the ribbon 5 and a printed circuit board 54 thatis positioned at the bottom of the amplifier housing 38 of the amplifier3. The aforementioned amplifier grounding electrode 44 is detachablyconnected to the amplifier 3 through the bottom of amplifier housing 38and to the printed circuit board 54 at the electrical receptacle 56,such that the flat conductive base 45 of the amplifier groundingelectrode 44 is connected to ground against the patient's skin.

In some embodiments, the amplifier 3 comprises first and secondelectrically conductive pillows 50 and 52 that lie in electrical contactwith respective ones of the aforementioned electrically conductive topshielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer 72. Thus, the topshielding layer 70 at the top of the ribbon 5 is connected to ground atthe patient's skin by way of a first electrical path to ground thatcomprises the first conductive pillow 50, the electrically conductiveamplifier housing 38, a first jumper wire 60 that connects amplifierhousing 38 to the electrical receptacle 56, and finally the amplifiergrounding electrode 44 and the base 45 lying against the patient's skin.The bottom shielding layer 72 at the bottom of the ribbon 5 is alsoconnected to ground by way of a second electrical path to ground thatcomprises the second conductive pillow 52 and a second jumper wire 61that connects pillow 52 to the electrical receptacle 56, and finally theamplifier grounding electrode 44 and the base 45 thereof against theuser's skin. In this same regard, it may be appreciated that topshielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer 72 at the top andbottom of the ribbon 5 are electrically connected to one another by wayof the electrically conductive pillows 50 and 52 and the electricallyconductive amplifier housing 38.

The resilient characteristic of the electrically conductive (e.g., mesh)pillows 50 and 52 which overlay the top shielding layer 70 and thebottom shielding layer 72 of the ribbon 5 accommodate and absorb bendingforces to which the ribbon 5 is subjected. The pillows 50 and 52 alsosupport the ribbon 5 within the amplifier housing 38 and suspend theribbon 5 above the printed circuit board 54 so as to lie in axialalignment with the electrical connector block 48. The electricalconnector block 48 to which the terminal end 51 of the ribbon 5 isconnected is, in turn, electrically connected to the printed circuitboard 54 by way of an upstanding connector post 58. The printed circuitboard 54 contains conventional signal conditioning and amplifiercircuitry by which the fixational eye movement biosignal is alternatingvoltage biosignal carried by the ribbon 5 is amplified, in someembodiments by a factor of at least ten. An amplified analog fixationaleye movement biosignal is supplied from the amplifier 3, shown in FIG.12, to the signal processor 9 and display 10, of FIG. 17, by means ofthe shielded cable 7 that extends from the printed circuit board 54.However, as earlier explained the fixational eye movement biosignalmight also be transmitted from the amplifier 3 to the signal processor 9over a wireless communication path illustrated in FIG. 18.

Referring concurrently to FIGS. 13-16 of the drawings, details are nowprovided of an embodiment of the ribbon 5, which is electricallyconnected at the proximal end thereof to the sensor 16 (previouslydescribed while referring to FIGS. 8-10) and at the opposite terminalend 51 to the amplifier 3 (as described while referring to FIG. 12). Theribbon 5 is disposed in surrounding engagement with and connectedbetween the top surface 28 and bottom surface 32 of the sensor 16 andthe electrical connector block 48 that is held, by the connector post58, above the printed circuit board 54, that is positioned inside and atthe bottom of the shielded housing 38 of the amplifier 3 shown in FIG.12.

Some embodiments of the ribbon 5 comprise upper and lower elongated andupper strip 62 and lower strip 64 that are attached one above the other.By way of example, the bottom of the upper strip 62 and the top of thelower strip 64 can be bonded face-to-face one another by a conventionalthin layer of adhesive (designated 65 in FIG. 15). Each of the upper andlower strips 62 and 64 of ribbon 5 comprises an upper non-conductivelayer 66 and bottom non-conductive layer 68 that can be manufacturedfrom an electrical insulating polyimide or any other suitablenon-conductive material. Both the top and the bottom of each of theupper non-conductive layer 66 and the bottom non-conductive layer 68 ofthe upper and lower strips 62 and 64 are initially covered by anelectrically conductive (e.g., aluminum or gold) coating.

As shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, top shielding layer 70 andthe bottom shielding layer 72 which cover the outwardly facing top ofthe upper non-conductive layer 66 of the upper strip 62 and theoutwardly facing bottom of the bottom non-conductive layer 68 of thelower strip 64 of the ribbon 5 are left intact to create shieldingsurfaces. The top shielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer 72were previously described while referring to FIG. 12 as being connectedto each other and to ground at the individual's skin to shield theribbon 5 against electrical and electromagnetic energy that mightinterrupt or distort the biosignal generated by the sensor 16 andsupplied to the amplifier 3 by ribbon 5.

As shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 13, portions of the shielding,which can initially cover the inwardly facing bottom of the uppernon-conductive layer 66 of the upper strip 62 and the opposing inwardlyfacing top of the bottom non-conductive layer 68 of the lower strip 64,can be etched away to leave respective longitudinally extendingelectrically conductive traces 74 and 76 running along the uppernon-conductive layer 66 and the bottom non-conductive layer 68 of theupper and lower strips 62 and 64. During the aforementioned etchingprocess, pairs of relatively wide electrically conductive upperterminals 78, 79 and conductive lower terminals 80, 81 are formed atfirst and opposite ends of each of the conductive traces 74 and 76. Withthe upper and lower strips 62 and 64 of the ribbon 5 bonded together bythe intermediate adhesive layer 65 (of FIG. 15), the longitudinallyextending electrically conductive traces 74 and 76 formed on the bottomand on the top of the upper non-conductive layer 66 and the bottomnon-conductive layer 68 lie in parallel alignment and in electricalisolation from one another. The aforementioned etching process is anexample of a technique for forming the electrically conductive traces 74and 76. However, it should be understood that other conventionaltechniques can be used to form the traces 74 and 76 on the uppernon-conductive layer 66 and the bottom non-conductive layer 68.

As shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 15, the sensor 16 can be amulti-layer piezo-active element and located, in some embodimentssandwiched, between first ends of the upper and lower strips 62 and 64at the proximal end of the ribbon 5. In some embodiments, anelectrically conductive upper pad 82 is adhesively bonded between theupper terminal 78 located at a first end of the upper trace 74, on thebottom of the upper strip 62, and the top surface 28, on the top of thesensor 16. An electrically conductive lower pad 83 is located betweenthe bottom surface 32, which lies at the bottom of the sensor 16, andthe lower terminal 80, located at a first end of the lower trace 76, onthe top of the lower strip 64. The upper and lower terminals 78 and 80at the first ends of traces 74 and 76 and the upper pad 82 and the lowerpad 83, on the top and the bottom of the sensor 16, are all aligned withone another in a stack at the proximal end of the ribbon 5.

In some embodiments, an electrically conductive upper terminal pad 84 isadhesively bonded between the upper terminal 79 formed at the oppositeend of the upper trace 74 on the bottom of the upper strip 62 and anopposing upper terminal 86 formed on the top of a flexible transitioncircuit board 88 (of FIG. 13). The circuit board 88 is located, in someembodiments sandwiched, between opposite ends of the upper strip 62 andlower strip 64 at the terminal end 51. An electrically conductive lowerterminal pad 85 is located between the lower terminal 81, located at theopposite end of the lower trace 76 on the top of the lower strip 64, andan opposing lower terminal 90, located on the bottom of the flexibletransition circuit board 88. The terminals 79 and 81, at the oppositeends of the upper trace 74 and the bottom trace 76, the upper terminalpad 84, the lower terminal pad 85, located above and below the circuitboard 88, the opposing upper terminal 86 and the circuit board lowerterminal 90, of the circuit board 88, are all aligned with one anotherin a stack at the terminal end 51 of the ribbon 5.

The upper terminal 86 of the transition circuit board 88 (e.g., a firstoutput terminal of the ribbon 5) is electrically connected to theelectrical connector block 48 that is surrounded by the electricallyconductive shielded amplifier housing 38 (of FIG. 12) by way of a firstconductive trace 92 lying on the top of circuit board 88 and a firstelectrical contact 94 of electrical connector block 48. The circuitboard lower terminal 90 of the transition circuit board 88 (e.g., asecond output terminal of the ribbon 5) is electrically connected to theelectrical connector block 48 by way of a second conductive trace 96lying on the bottom of circuit board 88 and a second electrical contact98 of electrical connector block 48. As was previously explained whilereferring to FIG. 12, the electrical connector block 48 is electricallyconnected to the printed circuit board 54 that lies at the bottom of theamplifier housing 38 of amplifier 3. Therefore, it may be appreciatedthat the alternating voltage biosignal generated by the sensor 16 can betransmitted from the top surface 28 and bottom surfaces 32 at the topand at the bottom of sensor 16 to the amplifier 3 by way of theelectrically conductive traces 74 and 76 which run along the upper andlower strips 62 and 64 between the proximal and terminal end 51 of theribbon 5.

It is to be understood that the electrically conductive upper trace 74,which runs along the bottom of the upper non-conductive layer 66, may beelectrically isolated from the top shielding layer 70 that covers thetop of the upper non-conductive layer 66. Likewise, the electricallyconductive lower trace 76 which runs along the top of the bottomnon-conductive layer 68 of the lower strip 64 of the ribbon 5, may beelectrically isolated from the bottom shielding layer 72 that covers thebottom of the bottom non-conductive layer 68. Moreover, the topshielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer 72, that cover the topof the upper non-conductive layer 66 and the bottom of the bottomnon-conductive layer 68, almost completely surround the ribbon 5 andenclose the electrically conductive traces 74 and 76 thereof as well asthe sensor 16 lying therebetween so as to avoid an alteration of thealternating voltage biosignal as could be caused by external electricaland electromagnetic interference.

The adhesive 100 can be attached, at one side thereof, to the outwardlyfacing bottom of the lower strip 64. The opposite side of the adhesive100 can be covered by a pull off release film strip 42. When the filmstrip 42 is pulled off and removed from the adhesive 100, the eye sensor1 including the ribbon 5 and the sensor 16 that is located, in someembodiments sandwiched, between the upper strip 62 and the lower strip64 at the proximal end of ribbon 5, can be adhesively attached to thepatient's eyelid in such a way to permit the fixation movements of theeyeball of the patient to be sensed, amplified, processed and/ordisplayed.

By virtue of the ribbon 5 herein disclosed, the sensor 16 can besubstantially isolated from mechanical forces that might otherwise betransmitted thereto from the amplifier 3. By way of example, muscularactions, seismic activity and other mechanical motions and vibrationscould introduce unwanted artifact noise to the alternating voltagebiosignal produced by the sensor 16. To this end, a minimum flexuralrigidity depending upon the dimensions and material electricity of theribbon 5 are preferable in order to avoid the transmission of suchmechanical forces to the sensor 16 via ribbon 5.

In some embodiments, the thickness of the ribbon 5 is less than or equalto 25 microns, while the width is about 4-8 mm. In some embodiments, theflexural rigidity of the ribbon 5 is less than or equal to 10×10⁻⁴-in⁴.As indicated earlier, the ribbon 5 should be provided with slack orstrain relief to avoid applying force to the sensor 16. That is thelength of the ribbon 5 longer than the straight line distance betweenthe sensor 16 and the amplifier 3. In some embodiments, the length is atleast 5% longer than the straight line distance.

In FIG. 13B, an embodiment of a detector 11 is shown. The detector 11comprises terminal end 51, a ribbon 5 and a sensor 16. The terminal end51 comprises a terminal end backing 187, top shielding pad 186, a bottomshielding pad 185, and an attachment means 190. The sensor 16 comprisesa top surface 28 and a bottom surface 232 that are conductive; a sensingelement 30; and a bottom conductive surface terminal 180. The bottomconductive surface terminal 180 is electrically coupled to the terminal78. In some embodiments, the bottom conductive surface terminal 180 andthe upper terminal 78 are connected via the conductive upper pad 82. Insome embodiments, a portion, if not all, of the sensor 16 is covered bythe ribbon 5. In some embodiments, the sensor 16 comprises a bottomconductive surface 232, a conductive bridge 181 that couples the bottomconductive surface 232 with the bottom conductive surface terminal 180.

An embodiment of the ribbon 5, as shown in FIG X, comprises a topshielding layer 70, an upper non-conductive layer 66, a conductive uppertrace 74, a bottom non-conductive layer 68, and a bottom shielding layer72.

In FIG. 13C, an embodiment of a sensor 16 and an embodiment of a ribbon5 is shown. The ribbon 5 comprises a top shielding 70; an uppernon-conductive layer 66; a conductive upper trace 74; a bottomnon-conductive layer 68; a conductive upper trace 74; and a bottomshielding 72. The sensor 16 comprises a conductive upper pad 82; anon-conductive layer 260; a top surface 28 and a bottom conductivesurface terminal 180 electrically coupled to the conductive upper pad82; a bottom conductive surface 232 coupled to the sensing element 30.The conductive pad 82, while electrically coupled to the top surface 28and bottom conductive surface 232, insulates the top surface 28 frombottom conductive surface 232 and individually couples the top surface28 and bottom conductive surface 232, via the bridge 181, to theconductive upper trace 74 and the bottom shielding layer 72. In someembodiments, the top shielding layer 70 and the upper non-conductivelayer 66 of ribbon 5 extend over the sensor 16 so that it is fullycovered by a top shielding layer 70 and will be shielded by the topshielding layer 70.

One difference of the embodiment shown in FIG. 13C, as compared to otherembodiments of the sensor 16 disclosed, is that bottom shielding layer72 of the ribbon 5 is able to act as both a trace and electromagneticshielding for the ribbon 5. This can be an advantage over other ribbons5 in that there is one less trace or electrical pathway required. Thiscan result in a thinner, more flexible ribbon 5. As mentioned above, themechanical movement transmitted by the ribbon 5 to the sensor 16 willcorrupt readings. Thus, a thinner and/or flexible ribbon 5 will resultin more accurate readings. In some embodiments, the bottom shieldinglayer 72 is grounded by the amplifier 3.

Also shown in in FIG. 13C, an embodiment of the terminal end 51 isshown. The terminal end 51 comprises a top shielding pad 186, coupled tothe top shielding layer 70; a bottom shielding pad 185, coupled to thebottom shielding layer 72; and a terminal 191 coupled to the conductiveupper trace 74. Some embodiments further comprise an attachment means190 that is electrically conductive. In some embodiments, the attachmentmeans 190 comprises an electrically conductive magnet. Some embodimentsfurther comprise a terminal end backing 187.

In FIG. 13D, an embodiment of a terminal end and an embodiment of anamplifier 3 are shown. The amplifier 3 comprises an outer housing 193;an electrical receptacle 56; and a printed circuit board 54. Someembodiments further comprise a housing 38. The amplifier 3 can beattached to a grounding electrode 44 that abuts, and grounded to, thepatient's skin. In some embodiments, the amplifier 3 comprises thegrounding electrode 44 and/or a conductive adhesive patch 46, while inother embodiments, the grounding electrode 44 and/or adhesive patch 46is provided separately. The aforementioned amplifier grounding electrode44 is detachably connected to the amplifier 3. The grounding electrode44 is electrically coupled to the printed circuit board 54 via theelectrical receptacle 56, such that the amplifier grounding electrode 44acts as the ground when attached to the against the patient's skin.

The outer housing 193 will be grounded to the patient via the conductiveadhesive patch 46. This effectually serves to ground the shielding ofthe ribbon 5 and, effectively a side of the sensing element 30, shown asthe bottom surface 232. However, it is understood that either side ofthe sensing element 30 can be grounded by the ribbon shielding. Asshown, the top shielding layer 70, at the top of the ribbon 5, isconnected to ground at the patient's skin by way of a first electricalpath to ground that comprises the top shielding pad 186, theelectrically conductive outer housing 193, and the conductive adhesivepatch 46. The bottom shielding layer 72 at the bottom of the ribbon 5 isalso connected to ground by way of a partially shared path. The bottomshielding layer 72 at the bottom of the ribbon 5 is coupled to thebottom shielding pad 185, and the bottom shielding pad 185 is alsocoupled to the outer housing 193. Other embodiments further comprise anattachment means 190 to which both the top shielding pad 186 and thebottom shielding pad 185 is coupled to the attachment means, which isalso coupled to the outer housing 193. In this same regard, it may beappreciated that top shielding layer 70 and the bottom shielding layer72 are electrically coupled the outer housing 193.

The printed circuit board is, when attached, electrically coupled to thesensing element 30 via the conductive trace and the terminal 191. Theprinted circuit board 54 contains conventional signal conditioning andamplifier circuitry by which the fixational eye movement biosignal isalternating voltage biosignal carried by the ribbon 5 is amplified, insome embodiments, by a factor of at least ten. An amplified analogfixational eye movement biosignal is supplied from the amplifier 3 tothe signal processor 9 and display 10 of FIG. 17 by means of theshielded cable 7 that extends from the printed circuit board 54 andoutwardly through a side of the amplifier housing 38. However, asearlier explained, the fixational eye movement biosignal may also betransmitted from the amplifier 3 to the signal processor 9 over awireless communication path illustrated in FIG. 18.

FIG. 17 of the drawings shows an embodiment of the eye sensor 1connected to the previously mentioned signal processor 9. Moreparticularly, and as previously disclosed, the alternating voltagebiosignal generated in response to a deflection of the piezoelectricfilm 30 (shown in FIGS. 8-13) of the sensor 16 is first supplied to andamplified by the amplifier 3. In one embodiment, the amplifier 3 iscapable of filtering the raw fixational eye movement biosignal data andeliminating basic artifacts, such as those caused by head movements andlarge voluntary eye movements. The signal processor 9 should be capableof clock timing, buffering, windowing and filtering the amplifiedfixational eye movement biosignal and eliminating the same and otherartifacts (such as those caused by undesired eye movements andelectrical or electromagnetic interference). The processor and routines114 are capable of parsing between the different types of fixational eyemovements, analyzing individual and combined signal components andcomputing various parameters such as the dominant high frequency of theOMT component or by computing the combined amplitude and power rate ofthe MS and OMT eye movements. Further the processor and routines 114 areable to identify events, evaluate events using such amplitude, power andfrequency parameters and others in order to compute additional valuesrelated to events and trends, such computations often including the useof multiple types of fixational eye movement data. In some embodiments,the eye sensor 1 provides numerical values such as reactivity energy ofan event, long term, and short term ratios, before-during-and afterevent comparative analyses, frequency numbers and displaying themulti-parameter and numerical values results at the display 10.Likewise, a real-time graphical representation of the eye signalwaveform (designated 12 in FIG. 1) is also displayed so that a recenthistory of the patient's brain stem activity and level of consciousnessis visually available on the display 10. Further the processor androutines 114 contain stored reference values pertaining to variousclinical diagnoses. The processor and routines are capable of comparingdata streams in a time-synchronized manner deriving paired combinationsof multiple parameters and comparing those computed results against thestored known references in order to support clinical decisions, such aswhether to increase decrease or maintain the administration of a drug,or to alert a clinician of an unexpected state of the patient'sbrainstem and condition.

In some embodiments, the routines 114 comprise frequency and amplitudebandpass filters that are used to provide the information to the monitoron the display 10 (of FIG. 1) which is connected to signal processor 9.By way of example, the amplitude bandpass filters of signal processor 9are adapted to recognize the input waveform generated by the sensor 16.Any waveform having an amplitude greater than a predetermined threshold(such as that caused by microsaccades) are filtered and eliminated asnot being representative of reliable eye information.

A conventional processing technique (e.g., fast Fourier transformanalysis, linear predictive modeling or peak counting) is used tocompute the frequency of the digital eye biosignal. In a peak countingapproach, the fixational eye movement biosignal is sampled during apredetermined time interval. A count of the signal peaks is maintainedand incremented during the sampling time. The peak frequency innumerical form (designated 14 in FIG. 1) is displayed on the display 10(best shown in FIG. 1). Any portion of the fixational eye movementbiosignal which is determined to be indicative of gross eye movementsand microsaccades is eliminated.

The amplified alternating voltage fixational eye movement biosignal canbe supplied from the amplifier 3 to an analog to digital (A/D) converter110 of the signal processor 9 of FIG. 17 by the shielded cable 7connected therebetween. The A/D converter 110 converts the analogalternating voltage biosignal to a digital signal to facilitateprocessing. The digital signal produced by A/D converter 110 is suppliedto a digital isolator 112 which isolates the information content of thefixational eye movement biosignal from interference that might beproduced by a source of power needed to drive the hardware required toperform the signal processing. The digital isolator 112 also serves anelectrical safety purpose of electrically isolating the patient facingportions from the AC main powered portions in the case of an unintendedcircuit fault.

In some embodiments, the routines 114 comprise frequency and amplitudebandpass filters that are used to provide the information to the monitoron the display 10 (of FIG. 1) which is connected to signal processor 9.By way of example, the amplitude bandpass filters of signal processor 9are adapted to recognize the input waveform generated by the sensor 16.Any waveform having an amplitude greater than a predetermined threshold(such as that caused by microsaccades) are filtered and eliminated asnot being representative of reliable eye information.

A conventional processing technique (e.g., fast Fourier transformanalysis, linear predictive modeling or peak counting) is used tocompute the frequency of the digital eye biosignal. In a peak countingapproach, the fixational eye movement biosignal is sampled during apredetermined time interval. A count of the signal peaks is maintainedand incremented during the sampling time. The peak frequency innumerical form (designated 14 in FIG. 1) is displayed on the display 10(best shown in FIG. 1). Likewise, a real-time graphical representationof the eye signal waveform (designated 12 in FIG. 1) is also displayedso that a recent history of the patient's brain stem activity and levelof consciousness is visually available on the display 10.

The processed values frequency of the fixational eye movement biosignalbeing sampled is tested for validity so that spurious signals can befiltered and eliminated. For example, the frequency of the fixationaleye movement biosignal can be inspected and compared with apredetermined frequency range that is known to conform to recognizedphysiological conditions. What is more, if the patient is subjected to abaseline test prior to being anesthetized, the fixational eye movementbiosignal can be compared with the baseline test results. Any portion ofthe fixational eye movement biosignal which is determined to beindicative of gross eye movements and microsaccades is eliminated.

The amplified alternating voltage fixational eye movement biosignal canbe supplied from the amplifier 3 to an analog to digital (A/D) converter110 of the signal processor 9 of FIG. 17 by the shielded cable 7connected therebetween. The A/D converter 110 converts the analogalternating voltage biosignal to a digital signal to facilitateprocessing. The digital signal produced by A/D converter 110 is suppliedto a digital isolator 112 which isolates the information content of thefixational eye movement biosignal from interference that might beproduced by a source of power needed to drive the hardware required toperform the signal processing. The digital isolator 112 also serves anelectrical safety purpose of electrically isolating the patient facingportions from the AC main powered portions in the case of an unintendedcircuit fault.

The processed values of the fixational eye movement biosignal beingsampled are tested for validity so that spurious signals can be filteredand eliminated. For example, the frequency of the fixational eyemovement biosignal can be inspected and compared with a predeterminedfrequency range that is known to conform to recognized physiologicalconditions. What is more, if the patient is subjected to a baseline testprior to being anesthetized, the fixational eye movement biosignal canbe compared with the baseline test results.

FIG. 18 of the drawings shows an embodiment of the sensor 16communicating with a signal processor 9-1, which is capable of receivingthe amplified analog fixational eye movement biosignal from theamplifier 3-1 over a wireless communication path. In embodiments wherethe amplifier 3-1 communicates with the signal processor 9-1 over awireless communication path, the previously described a/d converter 110is removed from the processor 9 (FIG. 17) and located in the amplifier3-1 to receive the fixational eye movement biosignal from the ribbon 5.The A/D converter 110 of amplifier 3-1 of FIG. 18 is electricallycoupled to a wireless transmitter 116 which is also located in theamplifier 3-1 along with a battery, microcell, or suitable power source,and an antenna. In this case, the shielded cable (designated 7 in FIGS.7 and 17) is eliminated. Likewise, the signal processor 9-1 of FIG. 18is provided with a wireless transceiver 118 which is compatible to andcapable of communicating with the wireless transmitter 116 of amplifier3-1. Thus, the signal processor 9-1 may be located remotely from the eyesensor 1 (e.g., at a nurses' station) so that the patient can bemonitored as he recovers from an operation or other procedure andreturns to consciousness.

It has been disclosed herein that the sensor 16 is attached to theeyelid of the individual being tested such that the sensor 16 isdeflected by the fixational eye movements of an individual's eyeball togenerate a biosignal. However, rather than having the fixational eyemovements applied from the individual's eyeball directly to the sensor16 to cause a deflection thereof, the fixational eye movements caninstead be applied to an intermediate mechanical actuator. FIG. 19 ofthe drawings shows an embodiment of the detector 130 which comprises amechanical arm actuator 132 that is attached to the individual's eyelidso as to concentrate forces and stress on a relatively small sensingelement 134. In some embodiments, the fixational eye movements areapplied from the eyeball to the mechanical arm actuator 132 rather thandirectly to the sensing element 134.

The mechanical arm actuator 132 of FIG. 19 can be manufactured from anon-conductive medical grade plastic. The mechanical arm actuator 132 isattached to the individual's closed eyelid so as to conform to the shapeof the eyelid at which to be deflected in response to the fixational eyemovements of the individual's eyeball. The motion sensing element 134 ofFIG. 19, which may be identical in construction to the sensing element30 shown in FIGS. 8-10, is located between the mechanical arm actuator132 and the ribbon 5. The ribbon 5 may be identical to that previouslydisclosed when referring to FIG. 13. However, since it is now the leveradvantage offered by the mechanical arm actuator 132 of detector 130which causes the motion sensing element 134 to be deflected, the motionsensing element 134 can be made smaller and require less shielding whencompared to the size and shielding. Moreover, the mechanical armactuator 132 which is not subjected to electrical or electromagneticinterference need not be shielded.

The deflection of the mechanical arm actuator 132 in response to thefixational eye movements of the individual's eyeball through theindividual's eyelid below mechanical arm actuator 132 is transmitted tothe sensing element 134. The biosignal generated by the motion sensingelement 134 is supplied to the amplifier 3 (FIGS. 11 and 12) by way ofthe ribbon 5 as previously described.

An embodiment of a detector 140 comprises a surface-mountedpiezoelectric cable element and for the sensor 142 is described whilereferring concurrently to FIGS. 20-23 of the drawings. The sensor 142 ofdetector 140 is a tubular sleeve rather than planar element as in thecase of sensor 16 as shown in FIGS. 8-10. More particularly, the sensor142 is subjected to having its original tubular shape distorted in orderto generate a biosignal in response to the fixational eye movements ofthe individual's eyeball. As shown in the embodiment shown in FIG. 21,the sensor 142 comprises a flexible, electrically conductive interiorarea 144 which functions as a first electrical terminal. Theelectrically conductive interior area 144 of arm sensor 142 issurrounded by a flexible intermediate piezoelectric material 146 that isadapted to be compressed and deformed. An electrically conductiveexterior surface 148 surrounds the intermediate piezoelectric material146. The electrically conductive exterior surface 148 of the arm sensor142 which functions as a second electrical terminal may be surrounded byshielding material (not shown). By way of example only, each of theelectrically conductive interior area 144 and exterior surface 148(e.g., the first and second terminals) of the sensor 142 of the detector140 can be manufactured from a thin electrically conductive metal mesh.

The tubular surface-mounted piezoelectric sensor 142 of the detector 140can be located in the folds of the individual's eyelid where it will beresponsive to the fixational eye movements of the individual's eyeballtransmitted through the eyelid so as to undergo a compression and adeformation by which to generate a corresponding voltage. With thesensor 142 initially in a relaxed state, the electrically conductiveinterior area 144 and an exterior surface 148 as well as theintermediate piezoelectric material 146 lying therebetween all have acylindrical configuration (not shown). However, when the tubular sensor142 receives a compressive force in response to fixational eye movementsof the individual's eyeball, the shape of each of the electricallyconductive interior area 144, exterior surface 148 and intermediatepiezoelectric material 146 is distorted and thereby assumes anelliptical configuration as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22.

The distortion and change of shape of the intermediate piezoelectricmaterial 146 produces a biosignal between the first and second terminals(e.g., the electrically conductive interior area 144 and theelectrically conductive exterior surface 148) of the surface-mountedpiezoelectric element sensor 142. The biosignal generated by the armsensor 142 of the detector 140 is supplied to the amplifier 3 by way ofa tubular-to-planar strain relief adapter 150 (of FIG. 20) of thedetector 140.

Referring specifically to an embodiment shown in FIG. 23, details of thetubular-to-planar strain relief adapter 150 of the detector 140 of FIG.20 are shown by which the electrically conductive interior area 144 andthe electrically conductive exterior surface 148 of the sensor 142 areconnected to the printed circuit board 54 (FIG. 12) of amplifier 3 insubstitution of the ribbon 5. The strain relief adapter 150 comprises aflexible substrate 151 manufactured from a non-conductive material andhaving an arcuate (e.g., curved) configuration. The curved substrate 151is adapted to be flexed in response to mechanical forces applied theretoto absorb pulling forces that could otherwise be applied to the sensor142. A first electrically conductive trace 152 runs longitudinally alongthe substrate 151 from an electrically conductive first contact pad 154to the amplifier 3. An electrically conductive second trace 156 runslongitudinally along the substrate 151 from an electrically conductivesecond contact pad 158 to the amplifier 3. The first and secondelectrically conductive traces 152 and 156 are arranged in spacedside-by-side parallel alignment along the substrate 151 of strain reliefadapter 150 so as to be electrically isolated from one another.

The electrically conductive interior area 144 is connected (e.g., pushedinto locking engagement) at an attachment (e.g. a groove formed in thefirst contact pad 154) on substrate 151. The second contact pad 158extends laterally across the substrate 151 so as to lie in front of andin axial alignment with the first contact pad 154. Therefore, at thesame time that the conductive inner area 144 of the sensor 142 contactsthe first contact pad 154, the electrically conductive exterior surface(e.g., the second terminal) 148 of the tubular sensor 142 will beautomatically aligned to lie on and contact the second contact pad 158.Accordingly, when the tubular sensor 142 undergoes a distortion and achange of its shape in response to fixational eye movements of theindividual's eyeball, the corresponding biosignal generated by the armsensor 142 between the electrically conductive interior area 144 andelectrically conductive exterior surface 148 thereof is transmitted foramplification to the amplifier 3 by way of respective ones of the firstand second conductive traces 152 and 156 of the strain relief adapter150 which run along the substrate 151.

FIG. 24 shows an embodiment of a detector 160 comprising a mechanicalactuator and a piezo-active sensing element. Like the detector 130, thatwas described while referring to FIG. 19, the detector 160 of FIG. 24comprises a mechanical force transmitting actuator that is responsive tothe fixational eye movements of the individual's eyeball. In this case,however, rather than an arm actuator attached to the individual's closedeyelid, a cylindrical force transmitting actuator 162 is located withinthe folds of the eyelid to lie closer to the eyeball than thepiezo-active sensing element.

The cylindrical force transmitting actuator 162 of detector 160 isadapted to be compressed and undergo a deformation in response to thefixational eye movements of the individual's eyeball transmitted throughthe individual's eyelid. The cylindrical force transmitting actuator 162can be manufactured from a compressible material, such as a medicalgrade foam rubber, or the like. By way of a second example, thecylindrical force transmitting actuator 162 is filled with acompressible liquid, such as a gel, or the like. In the event that thecylindrical force transmitting actuator 162 is filled with liquid, theactuator is preferably surrounded by a flexible envelope 164 (shown inbroken lines in FIG. 24).

The detector 160 comprises a sensor 166 that is generally planar so asto be adhesively attached over and conform to the shape of thecylindrical force transmitting actuator 162. The sensor 166, which canbe a piezo-active sensing element, may be identical to the sensor 16that was previously described while referring to FIGS. 8-10. However, toreduce the size of the detector 160, the sensor 166 embodiment that isshown in FIG. 24 comprises an upper electrically conductive surface 168which functions as a first terminal and a lower electrically conductivesurface 170 which functions as a second electrical terminal. Anintermediate piezoelectric material portion 172 is located between theupper and lower electrically upper electrically conductive surface 168and lower electrically conductive surface 170.

The fixational eye movements of the individual's eyeball are appliedthrough the individual's eyelid and result in a deformation and a changeof shape of the cylindrical force transmitting actuator 162. Thedeformations of the cylindrical force transmitting actuator 162 aretransmitted to the sensor 166 which lies over and against the forcetransmitting actuator 162. Accordingly, the intermediate piezoelectricmaterial portion 172 of the sensor 166 is correspondingly deflected sothat a biosignal is produced between the first and second terminals(e.g., the upper and lower electrically conductive surfaces 168 and 170)lying on opposite sides of the intermediate piezoelectric materialportion 172. The biosignal may then be supplied to an amplifier (likethat designated 3 in FIGS. 11 and 12) by way of a flexible (like thatdesignated 5 in FIG. 13).

The electrically active sensing element for the eye sensor 1 has beendescribed as typically being a sensor 16 that is configured to generatea voltage in response to the sensing element being deflected by thefixational eye movements of the patient's eyeball. However, any of thesensors (e.g. 16, 166, 142) disclosed herein may comprise, and any ofthe sensing elements (e.g. 30) disclosed herein may be, other types ofelectrically active devices, such as a variable resistance element(e.g., a strain gauge), a variable capacitor, accelerometer or avariable inductor just as long as the outputs of which will beindicative of the fixational eye movements of the eyeball of theindividual undergoing testing.

Referring now to FIG. 26 where an embodiment of the processor androutines 114 is shown. The fixational eye movement data is obtained bythe sensor, amplified and converted into valuable information throughthe use of the processor and a pair of first and second routinesdesigned to derive certain components and generate two separateparameters. A third routine is used to integrate and synchronize thedata streams so that joint values may be considered and analyzedsimultaneously so as to provide better more accurate views of the stateof the patient's brainstem and condition. The paired or joint valuesoften provide superior benefit than either of the individual orcomponent values. Fourth and fifth event detection and evaluationroutines interact dynamically with the third integrating andsynchronizing routine so as to be able to establish time windowsrelating to certain events and patterns. Examples include surgicalstimuli, other endogenous or exogenous stimuli, trend-based shifts invalues, procedural events, snoring patterns, sleep, and drug-relatedevents and the like. It is found that certain analyses such as thereactivity energy of an event, or the long term average of a parameterbefore and after an event, relating to and requiring the identificationand evaluation of these events are quite important indicators of patientconditions, past, current or predicted. An embodiment may provide anearly display of parameters so as to allow clinicians to visualize andinterpret data, may display data further in the processing routines soas to present individual numerical values and or real time streamingparameters. It is also expressly understood that pre-determined setpoints and user input values may be combined to produce the desiredresults.

In some embodiments, the fixational eye movement data comprises of OMTand MS. The fixational eye movement data can be continuously obtainedfrom a subject via the detector, amplified in a first stage, filteredwith an analog filter to remove low-frequency noise components below 5Hz, then further amplified to achieve an overall amplification in therange of 2000 to 2500 gain. After converting the amplified analog signalto a digital signal with the use of 16-bit low noise converter and 1000cps acquisition rate. The fixational eye movement data is processed byan amplitude power calculator (APC) and a frequency analyzer parser(FAP). Both of the APC and FAP employ a set of conditioning andfiltering routines that can be set to a variety of values and presenteither common or differing resultant filtered data streams to each orone or the other of the APC and FAR. The result data streams may becomprised of isolated eye movement components or combined components asjoint signals or joint signal data. The derived and generated individualcomponents, joint signals and parameters and combinations are selectedto provide the most accurate and beneficial perspectives on thebrainstem activity.

The filters can employ a bandpass filter, notch, and amplitude filter tofilter out data of frequency and amplitude components with values aboveand below and even within those values known for OMT and MS jointly.Notch filters can be used to filter out specific known artifacts such asthat of AC mains or other known unwanted interferences. Additionally, avariety of known filtering and signal processing techniques are knownand may be employed such as wavelet denoising, frequency band groupingand the like.

The aforementioned features of the eye sensor such as conformingapplication to the noise-deadening eyelid tissue, shielding, flexibleribbon mechanical vibration separation, grounding, and the like canoperate together with the conditioning and filtering routines ensurethat only eye movement signal data is presented. In an embodiment, thejoint signal resulting comprises the data represented by the two OMT andMS fixational eye movement components and only the data represented bythe two movements contained within the biosignal generated by the eyeand received by the sensor.

The APC employs a pre-set data window, buffers the voltage vs. time datafor that window and conducts an initial bandpass frequency filteringroutine set between in a manner that, when accounting for digital filterrolloffs and resonances, allows the full range of low-frequency MS andhigh-frequency OMT fixational eye movement data to be presented. Whilethe overall average frequency of the MS is known to be in a rangebetween below 1 hertz to 5 hertz, it is the observation of the applicantthat the MS bursts combined with resonance of the eyeball tend toincrease the effectively measured frequency value of the MS to a rangebetween 5 to 25 hertz, often 13 to 22 hertz. The APC computes thetwo-second average power or total eye power using the frequency filteredconditioned joint signal comprising both OMT and MS components. First,the conditioned filtered voltage values generated by the sensor at arate of 1000 cps are converted to their absolute values and then summedover a time windowing period, such as two seconds. The resultant powervalue represents the work accomplished by the eye over the time period.It is discovered that this power value reflects a significant portion ofthe power of the fixational movement as derived from the OMT and MSamplitudes and is a sensitive measurement of the brainstem reaction tostimuli. The parameter is especially useful in depressed conditionswhere a patient demonstrates no observable physiological responses orreactions to intentional or other stimuli, effectively assessed to be“non-responsive.” However, it is discovered that when the combined totaleye power parameter is employed, that actually below visible orobservationally-detectable levels a brainstem response is present andcan be illustrated on the display. In addition, data suggests that notonly can the system “see the useable” but that the resultant signal orjoint signals can be used to determine a proportionality or relativevalue of the response. A further feature of the system calls upon theevent detection and evaluator routines so as to calculate the totalenergy of the response or the reactivity energy. This calculation,comparison of the calculated value beneficial employment of theproportionality characteristic is described later.

In The FAP runs in tandem with the APC. Whereas in a different regime,the FAP operates predominantly in the frequency regime whereas it can beseen that the APC operates predominantly in the amplitude regime, theFAP operates predominantly in the frequency regime. The FAP comprises apre-conditioning and filtering routine of the general descriptionprovided with that of the APC. In one embodiment the initial eye sensorsystem working together with the initial frequency filtering results inthe same filtered data stream as is presented in the APC and describedabove. However, the FPC runs additional filtering steps so as to isolateonly the OMT component of the signal. Dual amplitude filters areemployed. One filters out the low end noise component associated withthe electronic circuits. While immaterial in the case of the APC andamplitude regime, low end noise interferes in the frequency regime andmust be removed. A second an amplitude filter that is capable ofisolating the dominant high-frequency component and/or the peak countfrequency of the OMT.

One signal processor 9 which is suitable to be connected to theamplifier 3 to receive the amplified biosignal and perform theaforementioned processor functions is shown and described in U.S. Pat.No. 7,011,410 issued Mar. 14, 2006, the details of which areincorporated herein by reference. Therefore, only a brief description ofthe signal processor 9 will be provided below.

A conventional processing technique (e.g., fast Fourier transformanalysis, linear predictive modeling or peak counting) is used tocompute the frequency of the digital eye biosignal. In a peak countingapproach, the fixational eye movement biosignal is sampled during apredetermined time interval. A count of the signal peaks is maintainedand incremented during the sampling time. The peak frequency innumerical form (designated 14 in FIG. 1) is displayed by the display 10(best shown in FIG. 1). Any portion of the fixational eye movementbiosignal which is determined to be indicative of gross eye movementsand microsaccades is eliminated in this case. The frequency parser isable in this manner to compute what is known as the dominant highfrequency component of the fixational eye movement signal as is known tobe represented by the highest frequency OMT component.

OMT frequency is an excellent indicator of the current continuous levelof brainstem activity. It drops rapidly upon propofol administration orthe loss of consciousness. It is indiscriminatory in the sense that anymeans of attenuating the brainstem activity lowers the peak countfrequency—a combination of different drugs, sleep states, drowsiness,injury and the like described by Bolger. Conversely, lightening of drugconcentration, awakenings, and stimuli serve to raise the OMT frequencyvalues. As such OMT frequency provides unique insights as to the stateof the patient, but it is hereto disclosed that certain clinicaldiagnoses are improved when the isolated OMT peak frequency isconsidered in a time synchronized manner about certain events inconjunction with the total eye power parameters delivered by the APC.The FPC thereby delivers a continuous data stream.

In some embodiments, a display 10 comprises a simultaneous dataintegrator (SDI) that can integrate each of the results of the APRC,FAP, event detector (ED), and/or the event evaluator (EV). In someembodiments, the two or more of results of the APRC, FAP, eventdetector, and/or the event evaluator can be combined into a combinationresult. The presentation of one or more of the results, can be shownwith one or more on the same screen, alternating screen of the samedisplay unit, and/or on different screens. The presentation can take theform of a track line, FTT, a spectral analysis, a quantitative number,multiple track lines and/or combination track lines. The presentationcan be shown so that the time is synchronized for all the itemspresented. Additional methods of computing and displaying combinedparameters of frequency and amplitude have been used effectively. Forexample what is commonly known as a spectrogram displays colored tonedimages that represent synchronized time information, frequency andamplitude data. In the case of surgeries, such techniques receiving theconditioned filtered eye signal data provide effective means ofillustrating events, trends and changes to the patient's brainstem andsedation or anesthetic state.

Some embodiments comprise an event detector. The event detector canregister an LTA and/or an STA. The event detector, in some embodiments,include a predetermined value or multiple for which the STA exceeds theSTA so as to register an event. Tertiary clinical input methods can alsobe used.

Some embodiments include an event evaluator that can quantify theevents. This quantification can be based upon previously obtained datathat can be stored locally, in the cloud and or the Internet. The eventevaluator has the ability to analyze fold changes, frequency of events,and/or energy of the event(s) in quantifying the events.

In some embodiments, the APRC and FAP is used to present a displayedresults for a user.

In some embodiments, a comparator compares the fixational eye movementdata and/or the results to known data patterns. The comparison can bepresented on the display. The comparator can output alarms, instruction,and/or cause an action by an automated system. For example, thecomparator may compare the current data points to known data points. Ifthe comparator determines that a negative situation has arrived, ornotices something that may be a forbearer of, it can instruct thedisplay 10 to present an alarm and/or suggested instruction. In otherembodiments, the comparator can autonomously alter drugs being suppliedto the patient.

Some embodiments comprise an eye sensor 1, to measure the amplitude ofthe fixational eye movements, specifically microsaccades together withocular microtremors, and a processor 9, having pre-programmed routinesto isolate certain components, manipulate and recombine data and presentresults. The ARPC performs a power calculator method and the FAR runs afrequency analyzer method to simultaneously produce two data streams. Insome embodiments, the data streams are the amplitude of the fixationaleye movement and a frequency component of the OMT. Each of the two datastreams can provide raw or computed values of each of power andfrequency parameters, and the data streams represent distinct butinterrelated parameters of the eye movement signal and thereforedistinct but interrelated parameters of brainstem activity. In someembodiments, the comparator performs a method that comprises matchingbrainstem activity patterns with closest known reference pattern and mayrespond according to pre-programmed rules.

In some embodiments the SDI runs a simultaneous calculation method. Thedata integrator interacts with a fifth routine; event evaluator thatemploys event data and analysis window from the event detector toconvert power data into reactivity data and presents integrated pairedcombinations of reactivity and frequency parameters, collectivelyrepresenting brainstem activity patterns.

The combined simultaneous measurement and analysis of the individual andtwo types of fixational eye movements and interpretation of combinedpatterns provides new and useful insights and enables the parsingbetween heretofore indistinguishable conditions and new diagnoses. Manyworkers have used MS fixational movements to measure attentionalresponse, determine states and to diagnose neurological conditions. Thiswork centers on those conditions where MS play an important role invisual perception and visual acuity. As such, the study of MS is limitedpredominantly to measurement systems used with healthy awake subjectswith open eyes, or in ways that connect to vision processes. It isimportant to note that MS have different characteristics than OMT, whichmake each more suitable for some tasks and less so for others. Forexample MS motions measured directly from the eyeball on awake subjectsare easier to measure with general purpose instruments of resolutionlimited to the micron range and instruments tuned for that specific sizerange. OMT on the other hand is a nanometer level amplitude, about 40times smaller in amplitude than MS, and requires high sensitivitysensors, hi-gain amplifiers, and precautionary elements to eliminate orreduce noise artifacts, more so that general instruments. The MS are solarge comparatively, that they render measurements OMT inaccurate unlessthe large waves are removed via filtering or other known means.Conventional OMT sensor systems are tuned for that range of motion asrequired for systems dedicated to measuring nanometer to 1 micron levelmovements and are primarily focused on the frequency, not the amplitudeof the OMT. Also given that OMT is measured predominantly with frequencyunits of values higher than those known for MS, prior art teaches one toavoid including microsaccadic low-frequency counts to avoid inaccuratelybiasing the higher counts from OMT. Thus, according to the prior art andthe purposes thereof, the MS provides no useful information and shouldbe filtered out in order to isolate the amplitude of OMT.

FIGS. 27A-27C demonstrate one example of an embodiment in use is whereinthe combined use of two fixational eye movement and associatedparameters can yield superior diagnoses than can the use of either ofthe components alone is managing the proper administration of sedativesfor critically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU). Theresults of significant experimental piloting by sifting through a vastvariety of potential parameters and variants of fixational eye movementsand the statistical results of a controlled clinical study are depictedin FIGS. 27A-27C. This study was designed to demonstrate the validityand reliability of ocular microtremor “OMT” during anesthesia andintensive care sedation. The primary endpoint was the correlationbetween OMT data and the current standard of care; a proven valid andreliable subjective physiological assessment instrument called theRichmond Agitation Sedation Scale (RASS). Hence the applicant sought todemonstrate a statistically significant correlation between OMT valuesand the RASS standard that was administered as a controlled form ofstimulus according to an approved research protocol.

Turning now FIG. 27B it is reported that the first correlation betweenthe traditional OMT signal frequency peak count alone and the RASSstandard where the R2 value is 28% The correlation statistics aresignificant but the range of scores is high.

The applicant hypothesized that RASS is a measure of patient reactivityand developed a frequency-independent measure of reactivity based on themicrosaccade component of fixational eye movements. The MS component ofthe biosignal had been omnipresent in the raw eye movement data, but theprior art taught to eliminate the MS component, by way of strongfrequency and amplitude filtering. The new parameter employs theprocessor and routines best shown in FIG. 26 so as to compute thereactivity energy of a stimulus event. The SDI receives the total eyepower data from the APC, incorporates event information from the ED andEV and computes a normalized energy value. The LTA of the total eyepower up to the event is calculated and added together over a designatedtime window leading up to the event and results in the pre-event energy.The eye energy corresponding to the event is calculated by summing thepower values over a same designated time period during the event. Thechange in energy from the pre and during periods are determined bysubtracting the pre-from the during value to result in the change inenergy due to the event. This change can be divided by the incoming LTAof the energy or suitable value so as to normalize across patientvariations. The log 10 of this normalized change in energy is an exampleof a useful and accurate event evaluation. This parameter embodiment,reactivity energy of event, is shown on the left axis of FIG. 27AApplicant conducted secondary analysis incorporating the new measure ofreactivity. Again, in FIG. 27A it can be seen readily by the trained eyethat the correlation statistics are R2 value is 70%—known to besignificant, but there remains a wide range of scores. Finally it wasrealized that both measures together provide a superior result thaneither of the two parameters individually. FIG. 27C shows thecorrelation statistics when both parameters are used together. In thiscase, when parameters are combined the correlation statistics r2 valueincreased by 10% to over 80% which is determined to be an excellentcorrelation and the basis for new clinical practices. In this case, theOMT frequency was multiplied with the reactivity energy of eventparameter to produce a new unitless index named fixational eye movementsedation index and shown on the left axis of the graph in FIG. 27C. Itcan now be seen that one can adapt this technique with the use of thecomparator to resolve a long standing problem of mismanagement ofmedication in the ICU. Current values for the patient can be computedusing the methods and apparatus described herein and they can becompared against the present correlational references now known in theform of a database. Comparisons can yield directions to drugadministration. Should the index value exceed a target level, then thedrug is increased. Conversely, should the measured index value be belowthe target level, then the drug rate should be lowered or discontinuedaltogether until the patient achieves the desired state. In the casewhere the index value matches the target value, then the drug level ismaintained as it is.

Subsequently it has become clear that one of the reasons for the abovedescribed discrepancy is that the use of OMT peak frequency alone doesnot discriminate well between the conditions of sleep-induced brainstemdepression and that depression state caused by drug depressions. Drugdepressions are more forceful in maintaining brainstem depression thanare sleep-induced mechanisms. The applicant has measured patient OMTvalues for deeply sleeping naturally subjects to be in the same lowfrequency range as for patients who are highly anesthtized with powerfuldrugs. However, importantly, the sleeping patient is arousable with astimulus of the same approximate strength than that given to ananesthetized patient who does not even respond let alone become aroused.Drugs attenuate the brainstem more forcefully than do natural sleepmechanisms. In a similar manner the reactivity energy and power derivedfrom the MS component tends to be less discerning in more awake zoneswhere the relative increases in MS amplitudes are less if not pronouncedas if they are already “full on” and so that additional provocationstimuli do not dramatically further enhance the amplitude. The OMTfrequency however is an excellent measure of activity at awake levelsand fully proportional to changes at that level. Hence again, theexplanation for why the combination of signal parameters is of greatervalue and used for new unexpected purposes than are either of theindividual values alone. This combinatorial value becomes especiallypronounced when for the first time multiple fixational eye movement datais taken together and employed across the full range of arousal scalefrom near death as in deep anesthesia or coma through to wide awake andeven aroused above normal states. This is the reason that the additionof the reactivity parameter derived from the MS component considered inconcert with the OMT value enhances overall statistical diagnosticperformance.

Consistent with the embodiments of the present invention and thedisclosed ICU sedation example, an embodiment includes a simple decisionmatrix that allows the comparator to easily identify one of threesedation states being deep, moderate and light. Values of OMT frequencybelow a certain threshold around 43 hertz, accompanied by low reactivityvalues below 1.5 indicate together a deep state. OMT values above 43hertz accompanied by reactivity values greater than 2.5 indicate a lightstate. Frequency values below 43 but accompanied by high reactivitybetween 1.5 and 2.5 are most consistent with a light state. Intermediatevalues of reactivity between 1.5 and 2.5 coupled in time synchronizedfashion with OMT frequencies below 43 hertz are most consistent with amoderate state, and so forth.

Similarly consistent with the current invention, circadian rhythms andsleep states can be illustrated for ICU patients and the sleep state maybe parsed from the drug induced swedation state so as to facilitate theaccumulation of proper rest or to enable the earlier diagnosis ofprevalent co-morbid conditions such as delirium.

Sleep analysis using embodiments of the present invention is not limitedto to ICU sedated patients. In some embodiments the invention is capableof identifying respiratory-related events during sleep that are used inthe diagnosis of sleep related disorders. In yet some embodiments, theamplifier 3 is reduced in size so as to match the smaller anatomy of aneonatal late premature infant used to detect apnea of prematurity andto map the trend of brainstem development during a stay in the NICU andafter discharge for periods long enough for the patient to achieve fullmature brainstem development.

In yet another example, as can be seen in FIG. 28, the effectiveness ofthe use of combination of the reactivity and OMT vs using reactivity andOMT independently are illustrated in the case of an outpatientcolonoscopy diagnostic procedure. The embodiments of the inventionprovide a superior means for adjusting medications. A time period ofapproximately one minute is illustrated, with the left axis charting OMTpeak count frequency as derived and generated with the use of the FAPand methods and the right axis the total eye power as derived andgenerated with the use of the APC and methods described previously. TheED and EV were used to identify two separate subsequent clinical eventsas demarked by event A followed by event B. Event A is the resultingreaction of the brainstem to a stimulus applied by the clinician, whichwas the application of a pressure cuff used to measure blood pressure.Simultaneous review of event A using a comparator shows that over aperiod of approximately 25 seconds both the OMT frequency value and theEye power value were relatively steady and low, sharply increased inresponse to the stimulus and then rapidly fell back to the same valuesas they were previously. In this case the compared combined data valueset comprising values derived from the OMT component and from the MScomponent considered together in time are compared against a knownreference to determine an instruction. In this case when both valuesrise and fall as described in harmony it is shown statistically to beassociated with an external transient stimulus and that no changes tothe drug level are required as a result. Up down and back to the samewent the values. It should be noted that time synchronization isimportant and can mean phase retarded, advanced, proportional betweenbefore and after etc. or any number of more complicated time basedrelationships. So long as the multiple data parameters derived from themultiple fixational eye movement components are of a known relationshipin time, it is consistent with the present invention.

Turning now the second event depicted in FIG. 28, event B, a truelightening or “wearing off” of the propofol plasma level is occurring.Again through a similar use of the eye sensor processor and routines acomparable constituted combined data set is derived generated andcompared. However in this case the pattern recognized by the event SDIis quite different. First the OMT frequency does not return to itsprevious level, rather notably it is elevated by 10 counts. Secondly,the peak OMT values are not as high, which suggests a more subtle changein frequency associated with a change in brainstem attenuation ratherthan the pronounced peaks presented in event A. A third characteristicof the pattern is that the Eye power values achieved are higher and moresustained than those of event A. In other words, the total reactivityenergy of event B is several fold that of event A. Taken together thiscombined data pattern including derived values of multiple fixationaleye movement components compared in time provide quite different resultsthan the pattern of event A and from the conclusions suggested by theevaluation of either parameter alone. In this case the anesthesiologistadministered an additional bolus of propofol just after event B and thesignal patterns returned to target levels. It can now be seen that thisinvention has predictive utility superior to that of the trainedprofessional attending this case, or at least confirmatory utility whichis also of tremendous benefit. To review the individual traces shownduring event B, the reactivity information as measured by total eyepower and energy for sure are larger, but the event appears to returnlargely to within a few percent of previous values. As such theclinician or operating system is left wondering whether or not toincrease medication unnecessarily. Similarly while the OMT value doesachieve a new sustained level above that prior to the event, it islevel, rather than continuing to climb, again leaving doubt to theoperator or system as to what drug administration strategy to follow.Taken together the two parameters increase the confidence of conclusion.This demonstrated result is proven in the statistical analysis of thecolonoscopy example where a controlled study was conducted acrossmultiple patients.

It should be noted that propofol used in the colonoscopy case justdescribed is known to be rapid acting and rapid dissipating drug. Thisis a main driver in its widespread use. It is also dangerous and canlead to immediate catastrophic outcomes. Many other drugs have beenmeasured and can be controlled by the present invention. These includedexmeditomine, sevoflurane, opioids, neuromuscular blockers/paralyticsand a range of other agents any of which affect the brainstem ofmammals.

Turning now to FIG. 29, there is shown one embodiment of a displayconsistent with the present invention that receives information from theeye sensor processor 9 and routines 114 and displays the informationthus making the information accessible to a clinician. The display 9provides for the real time continuous display of one or more combinedparameters derived from fixational eye movement components. Thehorizontal scale represents clock time or any other measure of time ortime-based units. Each of the axes are time-synchronized so as tomaintain a relationship between the two in normal operating mode. Thehorizontal scale is typically set to a default of 20 minutes anddisplays the most recent 20 minutes of continuously charted data. Theduration scale can be varied to show shorter or longer periods or tozoom in on a particular event or time point. The current time period andthe current value being recorded and displayed is at the far right mostportion of each graph area, and the signal shifts leftward as each 2second analysis window and recording elapses, as such the displayedtrace appears to be moving across the screen from right to left. At thetime where the leftmost data point is superseded by the next current newvalue, the oldest data point drops off the screen out of view.

In an embodiment the upper chart area displays the OMT frequency inunits of hertz on the vertical left axis. Proximate to the upper grapharea and of a large size to be readable from a 15-20 foot distance iscontained a numerical display of the current frequency value beingrecorded. The frequency value can be the instantaneous value, a 2-secondaverage or a longer average which allows a flexible approach to optimizebetween real-time precision and stability of the displayed figure. Thefrequency value in the display box proximate to the upper chart area canalso flash, turn to an alternate color or otherwise alert the user inthe case that the system detects data portions which are outside ofpreset values or exceeds filtering conditions.

The lower chart displays a continuously calculated total eye power,calculated using embodiments previously described. The vertical axis ofthe lower chart depicts the same units of total eye power as wasdescribed in FIG. 28 and are measured in units proportional to watts inan embodiment. Proximate to the upper graph area and of a large size tobe readable from a 15-20 foot distance is contained a numerical displayof the current frequency value being recorded. The frequency value canbe the instantaneous value. Proximate to the upper graph area and of alarge size to be readable from a 15-20 foot distance is contained anumerical display of the energy change of the most recent eventidentified by the event detector. In an embodiment, the energy changevalue can be calculated and displayed in units of fold change. Foldchange is similar to the reactivity energy of the event, and iscalculated in the same manner. The total energy of the event is computedand the difference in the energy of the event less the energy in theprevious most segment is computed and divided by the energy of theprevious most segment. In effect to provide the multiple or multi-foldchange in energy of the event compared to baseline normal. The value isnormalized by dividing by the baseline non-reactive period in order toaccount for variations between patients and amplitude variationsassociated with differing levels of sedation and the like.

In another embodiment, the display presents a single continuous liveparameter received from the processor 9 and routines 114, but a combinedderived computed value derived from the OMT component and themicrosaccadic component. The fixational eye movement sedation index isconsistent with this embodiment and invention. The numerical display boxproximate and large to be seen as described above displays the currentvalue related to the most recent event. The screen is divided into threegenerally equal portions the uppermost corresponding to light sedation,the middle portion to moderate sedation and the lower portioncorresponding to deep sedation. As the sedation index value shifts withclinical circumstance the corresponding portion of the screen isactivated in a manner as to illustrate the patient's general state inone of the three zones; light, moderate or deep, and shifts accordinglyupon transition there between.

Several other conditions that can be diagnosed or managed in a superiormanner over current standards and more effectively than by the use ofconventional eye movement sensing techniques will now be disclosed.There are now known derived and generated patterns derived from thefrequency, speed, amplitude, power peak velocity, average values, risetimes, slopes, fitted curves, ratios, fourier and spectral analyses andthe like combinations that indicate statistically significant results.The definitive mark of loss of consciousness, for example is marked by arapid drop in dominant high frequency peak count followed thereafter byapproximately few seconds a rapid exponential or logarithmic decay inthe amplitude of the MS component. Regain of consciousness tends tofollow a mirrored pattern, but in a nearly square wave fashion, where apreceding strong rise in OMT frequency is followed by a dramaticincrease of MS amplitudes.

The embodiments shown and described above are only examples. Even thoughnumerous characteristics and advantages of the present technology havebeen set forth in the foregoing description, together with details ofthe structure and function of the present disclosure, the disclosure isillustrative only, and changes may be made in the detail, including inmatters of shape, size and arrangement of the parts within theprinciples of the present disclosure up to, and including, the fullextent established by the broad general meaning of the terms used in theclaims.

It should also be noted that elements of embodiments may be described inreference to the description of a particular embodiment; however it isdisclosed that elements of disclosed embodiments can be switched withcorresponding elements of embodiments with the same name and/or numberof other disclosed embodiments. For example, it is hereby disclosed theidentified as 16 the sensor identified as 166, and the sensor identifiedas 142 are interchangeable with each other in any embodiment where asensor is disclosed.

Depending on the embodiment, certain steps of methods described may beremoved, others may be added, and the sequence of steps may be altered.It is also to be understood that the description and the claims drawn toa method may include some indication in reference to certain steps.However, the indication used is only to be viewed for identificationpurposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for the steps. It shouldalso be noted that elements with the use of the terms “upper”, “top”,“lower”, and “bottom” are not to be held as an indication of position;the terms were just employed in the element names for ease ofdescription. For example, an upper element could be located below alower element.

What is claimed is: 1-21. (canceled)
 22. A method of measuringfixational eye movements, the method comprising: providing a sensorhaving first and second opposing sides, wherein the sensor is configuredto conform to a shape of an eye; applying the sensor to an eyelid, withthe first surface of the sensor disposed adjacent the eyelid and havinga curved configuration; creating output signals, wherein the creatingthe output signals comprises the sensor producing a voltage in responseto eye movement, at least one of the output signals represents the eyemovement obtained while the eye is open; obtaining a combined data setfrom a frequency component of an ocular microtremor (OMT) and anamplitude component of a microsaccades (MS), the OMT frequency componentand the MS amplitude component obtained from said output signals;wherein the combined data set comprises the OMT frequency component, theMS amplitude component, and a time relationship therebetween.
 23. Themethod of claim 22, wherein measuring fixational eye movements includesmeasuring brain stem activity.
 24. The method of claim 22, whereinmeasuring fixational eye movements includes measuring characteristics ofsleep.
 25. The method of claim 22, wherein measuring fixational eyemovements includes measuring sedation level.
 26. The method of claim 22,further comprising, isolating a frequency component and an amplitudecomponent from the output signals: wherein the frequency componentcomprises an ocular microtremor (OMT) frequency, and the amplitudecomponent comprises a microsaccades (MS) amplitude, prior to theobtaining step.
 27. The method of claim 22, wherein the amplitudecomponent further comprises an OMT amplitude, and the OMT amplitude isobtained from the output signals.
 28. The method of claim 22, whereinthe measuring the fixational eye movements comprises comparing thecombined data set to at least one known reference.
 29. The method ofclaim 22, wherein the sensor produces the voltage in response to the eyemovement through the eyelid.
 30. The method of claim 22, wherein thesensor is a piezoelectric sensor.
 31. The method of claim 22, furthercomprising amplifying the output signals to render amplified outputsignals, and the isolating the frequency component and the amplitudecomponent comprises processing the amplified output signals.
 32. Themethod of claim 22, further comprising communicating an alert orsuggested action based upon the measuring the sedation level.
 33. Themethod of claim 22, wherein the measuring the fixational eye movementcomprises producing a reference value; wherein the reference value isbased on the combined data set, or comparing the combined data set to atleast one known reference, or a combination thereof.
 34. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the isolating the OMT component and the parametercomprises: processing the output signals; wherein the processing theoutput signals comprises: determining a value of OMT frequency; anddetermining a value of MS amplitude, a value of a combined OMT MSamplitude, a value of MS power, a value of MS reactivity, or acombination thereof.
 35. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one ofthe output signals represents the eye movement obtained during an eventincluding a body response, wherein the body response comprises aresponse to an exogenous stimulus or an arousal event.
 36. The method ofclaim 26, wherein the OMT component comprises OMT frequency, OMTamplitude, OMT speed, or a combination thereof.
 37. The method of claim26, wherein the MS component comprises MS frequency, MS amplitude, MSspeed, or a combination thereof.
 38. The method of claim 26, wherein thecombined data set incorporates the OMT component and the MS component,and a time relationship between the OMT component and the MS component.39. The method of claim 26, wherein the isolating further comprisesisolating an event component representing the effect of the event. 40.The method of claim 39, wherein the event is an open eye event.
 41. Themethod of claim 26, wherein the output signals coincide with one or moreeye openings.